#Fukuoka Season

[kyeomies]

omg not svt related but i managed to get vip tickets for fujii kaze in december….!!!

[sunskate]

Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker in their FD at JGPF 2013

[blonndiec]

I've been reading similar things and it's been bothering me. I get everyone is entitled of their own opinion/feelings and I respect that, but seems pretty extreme and detrimental for the future of Yuri!!! on Ice and for the fandom. So, I'm going to get it off my chest: - Victor Nikiforov is not dead. - Katsuki Yuuri is not dead. - They are not divorced. In fact, most probably are now married and with 10 poodles happily far away from Russia. Probably living in Japan based on Fukuoka or Hasetsu. So yeah, still together. - Victor probably skated one or two more seasons. Give it 3 seasons, because it was fun experiencing it with Yuuri. Mostly won silver but maybe his last season he did scored all Gold. Then retired and has been his husbands full-time coach. Probably even Yurio's choreographer. - Yuuri may be in his last competitive season or next one would be the last one given his stamina and how late he started competitive skating. He's won gold almost every year, perhaps even 2 Gold Olympic Medals. - At the moment maybe they're planning some off-season vacations. - ''See You Next Level'' is an open ending, so the story is ever growing and evolving. They're living. - Victor's past is that: The past, and it's gone. He learned from that, maybe Ice:Ado is him reminiscing about it before deciding letting it go in that frozen lake before Yuuri and Makkachin joined him there. He would rather live in the present with his two L's. - For really frustrating reasons, the movie is not seeing the light of day. But the anime exists, the fandom still exists and 14.5 million views on the announcement prove that. Also there is still content being created by fans, honoring the ''See You Next Level'' phrase. There, now here is a really concerned faced Victor after reading such funeral like good-byes and all the 'he's dead and his husband's dead' and everything in the world imploded.

[keikiri-kitten]

keigo absolutely loves strawberries. there’s no denying it. living in fukuoka, strawberries are kind of a big thing so you already know he’s on it. it also doesn’t help that strawberry season and his rut is around the same time. so not only does he have this harmless obsession with strawberries, but he’s bringing you home gifts to court you with that are strawberry themed. he will come home with glowing eyes and this chipper smile with boxes and boxes of strawberries just to share with you during strawberry season. you know what else he loves as much as he loves strawberries? you! he loves to take you to pick strawberries with him and loves to buy you absolutely the most corniest strawberry accessories from small fashion stores (that you honestly could have made yourself). but it warms your heart seeing his wings flap in excitement watching you try on a pair of tiny strawberry earrings or wanting to feed you the bright, fresh berries.

[nanaminokanojo]

BAD NEWS (part 78)

-just when you thought you were over your humongous crush on your older brother’s best friend, geto suguru, you couldn’t have been more dead wrong, except satoru doesn’t like suguru for you because he knows his kind all too well: a huge ass playboy who breaks hearts like he changes socks. but you think, MAYBE you’ll be the exception…maybe not.

CHARACTERS: drummer!geto suguru x you/afab reader x guitarist!sukuna | gojo satoru | various jjk characters

GENRE: full-length smau + prose | band au | college au | stupid pining | aged-up characters | friends to lovers (?) | smut

TW/CW: strong/mature language | adult content so mdni on some parts | mentions of alcohol, drugs | mentions of cheating, promiscuity, mild dubcon, etc. | god-awful pet names | toxic behavior | will add more if something arises

MASTERLIST | CHAPTER INDEX

<<prev part 78 next>>

A/N: Prose after the 3rd panel + panels between texts.

The air was electric in the stadium, the roar of the crowd a constant backdrop to the intense battle unfolding on the pitch. The scoreboard read 1:1, and the tension was palpable as the clock ticked down in the second half of the women's intercollegiate nationals. Suguru sat in the stands, a little closer than usual, his heart in his throat, eyes fixed on the field, where the Shiga Pirates, your team, were locked in a fierce struggle with the Fukuoka Warriors.

Suguru had come to the match as a surprise, unable to resist after you dominated the semifinals with the most points as an individual player. But that was just an excuse. He missed you, and he just wanted to see you regardless of the results. He’ll always be proud of you, but now, as he watched you, his admiration was tinged with something deeper, something he kept hidden even from himself most days. You were his kitten, a private term of endearment that held more meaning than he’d ever dare to admit. And now, watching you struggle, his protective side surged towards the surface, wishing he could at least give you a pat on the back if that would encourage you.

"L/N Y/N is having a tough time out there today," the commentator's voice crackled over the loudspeakers, his tone tinged with both admiration and concern. "She’s been a key player for the Pirates all season, racking up an impressive eighteen goals and twelve assists, making her the leading scorer in the league.”

Suguru’s jaw tightened as he watched you, clad in the Pirates' signature red and white kit, sprint down the left wing. Your usual speed seemed hampered, each stride a little heavier than the last. The turf, slick from a light drizzle earlier in the match, wasn’t helping. You were known for your agility, the way you could cut through defenders with a single touch, but today, the conditions seemed to be working against you.

“She can usually find the net anywhere on the pitch,” another commentator said. “We’ve seen her impressive footwork during their match with the Shizuoka Lions yesterday, single-handedly turning the game around with a stunning hat-trick.”

“But today, she’s facing a different challenge; Fukuoka’s defense has been relentless, particularly with their ace, Nakamura Rei, shadowing her every move."

"Come on, Y/N," Suguru muttered under his breath, leaning forward, his fingers weaving tight amongst each other. He could see the determination etched on your face, the way your brows knit together in concentration. You were fighting for every inch, but the Fukuoka ace was right on your heels, matching you step for step. She had clearly studied your playstyle, anticipating your moves, cutting off angles, and forcing you into uncomfortable positions.

"L/N tries to push forward, but Nakamura is there again, cutting off her advance," the commentator continued. "The Pirates' star forward is struggling to find her rhythm. She’s been a constant threat throughout the tournament, but today, Fukuoka has managed to neutralize her impact."

Suguru’s heart pounded in his chest as he watched you attempt another break. You received a sharp pass from your midfielder, Hasaba Mimiko, expertly controlling the ball with your first touch, but as you turned to face Nakamura, you hesitated, just for a split second. It was enough for the Fukuoka defender to close the gap, forcing you to play the ball back instead of driving forward.

"Damn it," Suguru whispered, frustration gnawing at him. He knew how much this match meant to you, how hard you had trained, how you had visualized every possible scenario. He could see the tension in your movements, the way your shoulders tensed when Nakamura got too close, the quick glance you shot toward your teammates, searching for an opening that never seemed to come.

"L/N’s been isolated up top," the commentator observed, echoing Suguru’s thoughts. "She’s not getting the support she needs, and Nakamura is taking full advantage. The Pirates are going to have to figure something out if they want to get her more involved in the attack."

Suguru’s eyes never left you as you tracked back, helping out on defense. You were clearly frustrated, your usual fluidity replaced by a grittier, more desperate style of play. Every time you touched the ball, Nakamura was there, pressing, harrying, forcing you to rush your passes or make decisions under duress.

"The Warriors are doing a fantastic job of closing down the space around L/N," the commentator noted. "She’s used to having room to operate, to dictate the tempo, but today, she’s constantly under pressure. You have to wonder if fatigue is starting to play a role here."

That’s ridiculous. Suguru knew that it was more than just fatigue, seeing the weight of expectation bearing down on you, the pressure of leading your team in the biggest match of the season. But he also knew your resolve, the way you thrived under pressure, how you found stability in moments of adversity. You were not a Gojo for nothing, and he knew you were going to bounce back as he watched you shake your head, almost as if to clear it, before positioning yourself for the next play.

"You got this, kitten. Show ‘em," Suguru whispered again, this time with a note of encouragement. He knew you weren’t the type to back down, even when things weren’t going your way. The score was tied, the clock was ticking, and the Warriors were gaining momentum, but he believed in you. He knew that if anyone could break the deadlock, it was you.

As the ball came your way again, he held his breath. This was it. This was the moment where you could turn the tide, where all your hours of practice, all your sweat and determination, would come to fruition. And it will be then that you will get the recognition you so deserved. The crowd’s noise faded into the background, and all that mattered was you and the ball at your feet.

"Make it count," Suguru thought, his eyes locked on you, willing you to find that spark, that brilliance that had brought you this far as you squared up against Nakamura again.

**

The match was a grind, the kind that pushed you beyond your limits and into a sweat and adrenaline fueled blur. The scoreboard held steady at 2:2, the minutes ticking down as exhaustion weighed on your limbs. Your lungs burned, and your legs felt like they were made of lead, but you refused to let up. Still, you knew you had one last play in you. You owed it to your team, all of them relentless, pressing forward with everything they had, creating just enough of a gap for you to finally shake off Nakamura’s tenacious defense. You knew with every fiber of your being just what you’re expected to do.

The ball was crossed into the box, a perfectly timed pass from the right wing. Time seemed to slow as you gauged the angle, calculating the distance between you and the goal. Instinct took over as you launched yourself into the air without hesitation, your body twisting as you extended your leg for the shot. Your timing was impeccable, your foot meeting the ball with a solid, decisive strike. You felt the impact resonate through your entire body, a shockwave of power taking over as you and your team held your breaths along with the whole stadium. A blur of black and white zoomed past the goal post as the ball sailed toward the upper corner of the net.

In that split second before you landed back on the turf, your eyes flicked to the stands, and there he was—Suguru. He stood out in the crowd, looking dapper in a black, tight-fitting shirt that hugged his broad frame, he might as well be the only one standing there. His raven hair pulled back into that usual half-up, smiling gorgeously and proudly at you, his expression somehow warm despite the aviator sunglasses shielding his eyes. But you knew his gaze was locked on you, as it always seemed to be.

In a moment of elation, the world around you blurred, leaving only the sight of Suguru, and you wondered, heart skipping a beat, what he was doing there. It can’t be, you thought for a split second, wondering why on earth he was there. You didn’t know if you were really seeing him, or if the adrenaline was playing tricks on you. 

But then the ball hit the back of the net with a satisfying thud and the reality of the goal you’d just scored hit. The stadium erupted into a deafening roar, the colors of your team creating an undulating wave across the stands. The ball had soared past the goalkeeper’s outstretched hands and into the net with a satisfying swish.

Your teammates swarmed around you, their cheers almost drowning out the sound of the crowd. But even as they lifted you in celebration, your gaze remained fixed on Suguru.

“You’re here!” you called out although you knew he couldn’t hear you, but he was immediately able to tell what you were saying and nodded. It was really him. He was there. He watched you win.

Grinning despite your precarious balance on your teammates’ shoulders, you tugged off one of your cleats—the ones he had given you, your good luck charm—and waved it at him, a playful gesture that was your way of sharing the victory with him. He tilted his head slightly, his smile widening as he raised his fist to you. And as your team carried you off the field, you felt a surge of satisfaction, knowing that in that most critical moment, both Suguru and the cleats had been with you.

TAG LIST: @lilc77 @lavender-hvze @maya-maya-56 @kibananya @nerdisthenewcool @darkstarlight82 @lysaray @ti-mame @ri-sa20 @diogodxlot @sugurubabe @guacam011y @yeehawslap @luvvmae @s-j320 @ichorstainedskin @iaminyourfloors @tanchosanke @hellyyy06 @tacobellfreshavocado @mrs-monkey-d-luffy @iluv-ace @satoryaa @clxvrs @saccharine-nectarine @wakashudou @inthedarkshadows000 @toffeebrat @starmapz @theoriginalmynoiix

© ORIGINAL WORK BY nanaminokanojo. CHARACTERS ARE INSPIRED BY GEGE AKUTAMI’S “JUJUTSU KAISEN”. [20240901]

PHOTOS/IMAGES/GIF/FANART/ANY MEDIA CREDITS GO TO THE RESPECTIVE OWNERS.

[triptychgrip]

Yuri!!! on Ice post-canon headcanons - Part 1

-Yuuri becomes the first skater to ratify the quad flip in-combination, with a triple toe-loop. When he lands the combo at the 2018 Winter Olympics, it predictably breaks the internet and becomes known as the Katsuki Combo. Phichit becomes the second person to cleanly land it

-Minako bartends at the Viktuuri wedding reception in Hasetsu, and is single-handedly responsible for getting everyone trashed on their 'Stammi Vicino' signature cocktail. Things get pretty risque towards the end of the night when the new grooms begin to make exceedingly over-the-top declarations of love for one another. Neither Hiroko nor Toshiya bat an eye at any of this

-The first 'Viktor and Friends' ice show -- even with the Chihoko drama -- was such an incredible success that the Katsuki-Nikiforovs make it an annual excuse for all of their friends to get together in the off-season. The Hasetsu City Council becomes so fearful over liability issues when they notice how many tourists try to scale Hasetsu Castle to get pics in 'Shining Chihoko' pose, that they permanently install guardrails on the top of the Castle

-Viktor begins learning how to pole-dance under Yuuri's instruction. It's a 50-50 in terms of whether their lessons are actually productive versus them just ending up having sex, lol. B/c they are the most extra ppl imaginable, they work with Christophe to come up with a routine to perform at the 2022 Beijing Games banquet. This is their "last hurrah" in terms of banquet shenanigans, as the 2022 Olympics marks Yuuri's last competition before retiring

-Mila and Sara begin dating during the 2019 off-season, and Sara eventually moves to St. Petersburg so they can live together. Mila has Viktor choreograph a gala skate proposal routine, and when she performs it for Sara, everyone thinks it's amazing/adorable that she caps it off with her new fiance's damnably difficult signature jump combo (the triple lutz-triple loop)

-After a few years in St. Petersburg, Viktor and Yuuri move permanently to Fukuoka, Japan, where they coach/train at the same rink as Kenjirou (who never quite gets over his Yuuri hero worship, but does learn to tone it down...somehow). The move to Japan allows the Katsuki-Nikiforovs to begin working with the Nishigoris on long-term plans to expand Ice Castle Hasetsu into a top-tier training center

-Once Yakov retires, Yurio "follows" Viktor/Yuuri to Fukuoka and becomes Viktor's second student. This "works" in some respects, and is a disaster in others. With his ample free time upon retirement, Yakov attempts to repair things with Lilia

If any of the above headcanons sound interesting to you, you might be interested in my 2018/2022 Olympic Games fic series, which is currently comprised of 7 different parts! When I first began posting part 1 (currently at 212K words and counting) last November, I didn't do a great job of promoting it. So, as it (and the overall series) gets closer to completion, I'm striving to do better around that!

I originally set out to write an in-depth, post-canon series for two main reasons:

1) I find the politics of competitive sport really interesting and, obviously, canon Yuri!!! on Ice doesn't really touch on this in just 12 episodes. But politics/bureaucracy truly do weave into just about every aspect of an athlete's career, and particularly with such a talented/prominent Japanese skater moving to St. Petersburg to live and train alongside the sport's "Living Legend", I found myself ideating around what the implications of that would mean in-universe, particularly for the Winter Olympics

and 2) I wanted to see more of the "give and take" that we know to be true of Viktor and Yuuri's relationship. Naturally, as Viktor grows into his role as Yuuri's coach in canon, the narrative is largely about how he supports Yuuri, and I wanted to be able to explore more of the opposite (Yuuri learning to support Viktor in a more overt way than is implied).

Part 1 of the series is centered around the 2022 Olympic Games, but jumps back and forth in time so that you are able to get glimpses of how their relationship has evolved from their earlier days, as well as to see the ripple effect of a big event that took place at the PyeongChang Games.

Last but not least, if you like reading post-canon Yuri!!! on Ice but don't have energy/interest in reading a very long WIP, I have lot of other stories up on ao3, which you can find here

[pretty-idol-hell]

The PriPara 10th Anniversary video and Tweet is up again! I believe this information wasn't supposed to be released until after the concert, but someone released it early. Oops.

I also noticed that the official Idol Land Twitter name and avatar has been changed. The name of the Twitter is now "Idol Land PriPara and PriPara 10th Anniversary", the new avatar features the 10th Anniversary logo, and the description explains that this account will be covering both Idol Land and the 10th Anniversary while it is ongoing.

(It's hard to imagine Idol Land ending during the 10th Anniversary, but having the official account being used for something else and the lack of a season 2 announcement today is a little concerning I have to admit.)

Okay, so about the actual announcement:

There will be a PriPara exhibition held this August 9th-25th 2024 in Tokyo, specifically Shibuya. They are also planning to bring the exhibition to Fukuoka and Osaka as well.

Having been to the Rainbow Live 10th Anniversary exhibition this past March, this honestly sounds very similar. They mention displaying PriPara's chronology (the Rainbow Live one had an episode-by-episode guide on the wall) and photo spots of Making Dramas and other scenes (same, we got a Prism Jump and Prism Stone shop as well as a bunch of mini ones), as well as stage costumes (well, we didn't get that at the RL one, instead we got merch and a guitar). The Rainbow Live one was cute, but very small. I was curious if this one might be bigger since they are taking it on tour but looking up the venue (地下1階, where it says "Event Space") this one looks equally small. So, perhaps not worth flying to Japan for, but be sure to check it out if you'll already be there!

Now, she's already made the rounds but the video also announced a brand new character. Not just for the 10th Anniversary, but the 1000th Anniversary!

Laalulu! She is a transfer student from the future, come to study about PriPara at the exhibition.

So... This is very funny for several reasons.

First of all, celebrating the 1000th Anniversary at the same time as the 10th is very on brand for PriPara considering it's long been canon that PriPara has existed for thousands of years, so why wouldn't it exist for thousands more?

And of course, although they don't acknowledge it directly, Laalulu is very clearly a fusion of Laala and Falulu.

Thus suggesting that Laala and Falulu's families become... intertwined at some point, somehow.

But at the same time, they are safeguarding themselves from suggesting she's a direct descendant since she's from so ridiculously far in the future. Yes, I know that vocal dolls, if she is one, can live for thousands of years. But, if she was already a thousand years old, why would she need to study PriPara in our age? So, I think she must be relatively young.

Or is she even a vocal doll at all? Because... not sure how that would be possible either.

My personal headcanon on this would be that perhaps Falulu or a Falulu clone becomes a real girl at some point, and meets up with a descendant of Laala.

Which, if true, would mean that they not only stole @moonlit-angel-serenity 's OC but mine as well, since that's what happens to Hinode in my canon LOL.

Haha, who knows. I'm pretty sure they will never explain it.

But, it seems to me this character is a character specifically made for the exhibition (especially since the logo features Laala and Falulu). Unless a voice actress is announced for her soon, I don't think they will be doing much of anything else with this character.

(In the video, Laala speaks to her and Laalulu replies back with text only, so it seems that she does not have one at this point.)

[tamapalace]

Bandai Japan Details Tamagotchi Connection Pop-Up Store

Bandai Japan has finally provided more information on the upcoming Tamagotchi Connection pop-up store that will be selling the Tamagotchi Connection 20th Anniversary starting on Thursday July 25th, 2024 prior to the official release on August 3rd, 2024!

The pop-up store will actually move around in Japan from Osaka, to Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Nagoya, and Sendai.

[Tokyo] Holding period: July 25th (Thursday) to August 28th (Wednesday), 2024 Business hours: 10:00-21:00 Venue: Shibuya Sakura Stage SHIBUYA Side 3rd Floor Character Collection ※There will be a pre-sale of Tamagotchi Connection from Thursday, July 25, 2024. Please note that the stock is limited, so please understand when it is out of stock. [Osaka] Holding period: August 2 (Fri) - August 15 (Thu), 2024 Business hours: 10:00-21:00 Venue: Lucua Ire 1F Isetan Seasonal Selection/Promotion 2 ※There is no pre-sale of Tamagotchi Connection. Please understand in advance. [Fukuoka] Period: September 21 (Sat) - September 29 (Sun), 2024 Business hours: 10:00-20:30 Venue: Fukuoka PARCO (New Building 3F Event Space) [Hiroshima] Holding period: October 4, 2024 (Friday) - October 14 (Monday) Businegss hours: 10:00-20:30 Venue: Hiroshima PARCO (Main Building 8F Event Space) ※Venue not decided [Nagoya] Holding period: October 19 (Sat) - October 27 (Sun), 2024 Business hours: 10:00-21:00 Venue: Nagoya PARCO (East Building B1F PARCO BOX) [Sendai] Holding period: November 22 (Friday) to December 2 (Monday), 2024 Business hours: 10:00-20:30 Venue: Sendai PARCO (main building 6F PARCO SPACE6)

There will also be an exlusive Tama Search character to meet at the pop-up stores which is Young Mametchi who is riding on a train! How cute is he in that conductor hat?

All four Tamagotchi Connection 20th Anniversary shells will be available for sale for ¥3,960.

They’ll also be selling the beautiful Tamagotchi Original Tama Time Travel shell that is featured at the Tamagotchi World Tour 2024!

There will also be a bunch of adorable merchandise! Including a 90’s Marutto purse in 3 styles, hand towels in 3 styles, can badges in 6 styles, clear sided pouches in 3 styles, acrylic keychains in 3 styles, glasses cases in 2 styles, trading glitter can badges in 10 styles, trading tv type magnets in 10 styles, bento boxes in 2 styles, memo pads in 2 styles, and flake seal stickers in 2 styles.

There will also be a train Tama Sticker with a limited 16-digit download code for your Tamagotchi Uni! Dream Locomotive Conductor Set Tama Sticker comes with a train and conductor hat accessory.

Greetings wil also be held where you can meet Mametchi and Kuchipatchi!

Shibuya Sakura Stage Schedule: July 31 (Wednesday), August 1 (Thursday) Characters: Mamecchi, Kuchipachi Location: SHIBUYA side 3rd floor OPEN THE GATE STAGE Lucua Ire Date: August 10, 2024 (Saturday), August 11 (Sunday) Characters: Mamecchi, Kuchipachi Location: Isetan Seasonal Selection/Promotion 2 (in-store)

[noona96n]

Yoh & Segasaki's timeline

According to Episode 7 (around the 00:33 minute mark), Yoh and segasaki have only been living together for four months. And Nikke-sensei's tweet, also clarifies that the proposal was made 3 years ago and that they’ve only been living together since March or April; which explains, in part, their shit communication lmao. 

Series timeline: June to July of year zero 

Ep 1: June 3rd (Sat)

The sunny weather forecast with Segasaki and Takatsu Reiko around the 12:30 minute mark in the latter part of Episode 1 is for 6月3日 (土). That means the present timeline, as in the drama, starts at the beginning of June; which tracks with the weather in the current episode and the weather in future episodes. Rainy season (梅雨 tsuyu) in Kanto (that includes Tokyo and Yokohama) usually starts in early June and lasts until mid-July, and, by then, typhoons already started ravaging the nation every two days lol 

Ep 2: June 8th (Thur) 

At the 8:03 minute mark, we find out that Hiyoshi Aika starts her job at EW (AHAHA WHAT A GOOFY ABBREVIATION) on the 8th of June (Hiyoshi Aika starts the broadcast by announcing the date: 六月八日). By June 10th, Yoh full-on became a sad, sulky puppy who’s pouting cutely as he made his sad stir-fry pork dinner (Yoh’s phone screen at the 9:05 minute mark reads ６月10日 土曜日). 

Around 9:56 minute mark the in-universe weather forecast shows forecasts for the 12th (Mon), 13th (Tue), 14th (Wed), 15th (Thur), 16th (Fri), 17th (Sat), and 18th (Sun) in Sapporo, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Naha, suggesting that the day that Yoh resorts to making the Teru Teru Bouzu is June 11th. (Teru Teru Bouzu is a small ghost-like white doll people hang around the house in the hope of stopping the rain and bringing about good weather. Yoh’s desperate for some dicking down lol.) So, the day Yoh got frustrated and masturbated for erotic manga inspiration is at least a day after June 11th. Yoh and Segasaki’s clothes changed by then (the most noticeable is Segasaki’s shirt and tie). 

Since the tail end of Episode 2 probably takes place on June 12th, at the earliest, we can only assume that Episode 3 and 4 take place over the weekend of the 17th and 18th. Or the next weekend after. I’m tempted to even suggest that both episodes take place on the weekend of 24th (Sat) and 25th (Sun) because of how loud the cicadas were in the background in the 4th episode with Man-san. Cicadas in Japan are no joke, guys, they are so fucking damn loud, RIP ears, you will be missed. 

Ep 6: July 24th (Mon) 

*** I think canon dates broke down from Episode 5 onward… Around the 14:47 minute mark of Episode 5, Segasaki and Hiyoshi were presenting the weather for the 7th (Thur). There’s no monthly indication but we can assume that it’s in July; July because we were just in June in the first four episodes but also because (the beginning of) July is when the (awful, terrible, no good) heatwave starts taking Japan by storm (it lasts until fucking August and even spills into September this goddamn year, I kid you not; it was horrible). But, in Episode 6, the weather forecast at the end of the episode (around the 21:33 minute mark) was for 24th (Mon). If the 7th was a Thursday, then the 24th should be a Sunday, not a Monday. 

That’s why I’m just gonna disregard the 7th (Thur) in Episode 5, though I do think it takes place at the beginning of June or the end of July. Also, if we disregard that and count the days from Episode 1 (Saturday, June 3rd), then Monday, July 24th would make sense in Episode 6. So, let's go with that.

By the end of Episode 6, it’s the 24th of July. I know this is a while from Episode 5 but if we consider Man-san’s My Idol Boyfriend manga, then it makes sense. Yoh was ‘offered a job’ by Man-san pretty much immediately after he got dropped by his editor and by Episode 7, their manga was already in print. It would take them some time to finish their manga; less than a month is a very tight time to write, storyboard, edit, and have it approved but let’s make believe lol 

Ep 7: Typhoon No. 5

At the beginning of Episode 7 (around the 00:09 minute mark), Typhoon No. 5 was forecasted to take Tokyo by storm tomorrow. That kinda checks out, to be honest. Typhoon season in Japan could start as early as mid-May and could last until mid-October, depending on how early or late the heat begins and how long it’ll last. So I do think Episode 7 takes place some time after July 24th. 

Interesting tidbit: typhoons in Japan aren’t given names but are usually referred to by numbers. 

Personal (interesting?) tidbit #1: the first year I came to Japan, the super typhoon Hagibis made landfall in Japan. It was the strongest typhoon to hit Japan in decades and it was one of the strongest and biggest ever recorded. It was hella scary, not gonna lie lol and food was all out, even from the convenience stores. Fortunately, I was living in central Tokyo and wasn’t affected. Still scared though…. And, the crazy thing was, an earthquake struck the coast of Chiba before the typhoon hit so the typhoon’s effect was compounded. Wasn’t a fun experience, 0/10, do not recommend. 

Personal (interesting?) tidbit #2: my parents visited me this passing late May to early June, around the time typhoon Mawar wasn’t waging war in the Pacific. It was not a fun experience… we weren’t directly struck by it but the effects were kinda crazy: roads were closed, trains were suspended, rivers were flooded, and shops and restaurants were mostly closed. Felt really bad cause I took my family to Hakone (booked everything ages in advance and couldn’t cancel our reservation RIP) and we were just stranded up there… thankfully the sky cleared by our last day there and we were able to catch a glimpse of Fuji on our Ashi-no-ko’s cruise and on the train back to Tokyo. Still, wasn’t a fun experience, 0/10, do not recommend. 

Japan’s a wonderful place to visit though! Just… pick the right time. (I recommend autumn (Oct-Nov) because the weather’s great, the food’s fucking amazing, and the autumn foilage’s pretty rad.) 

Ep 8: July 28th 

The date after their (mildly) kinky sexy time was July 28th (Fri). The date can be found on Man-san’s phone around the 11:00 minute mark (7月28日、金曜日). 

There’s also another time indication later in the episode around the 17:13 minute mark where Yoh and Segasaki last texted on July 26th. Segasaki was telling Yoh about the rain and Yoh’s responses were pretty frosty if I’m being honest. Their texts go like this:

Segasaki: 今日午後から雨降る (It’s gonna rain this evening) Yoh: ありがとう (thanks) Segasaki: 洗濯物取り込んどけよ (bring the laundry in) Yoh: うん (k) 

It’s… frosty. Bare minimum from Yoh. Ofc he’s just feeling guilty (about the manga situation and stuff) but, y’know… it feels cold to Segasaki. I honestly feel really bad for the guy lol, especially because, from his perspective, Yoh’s only thinking about leaving and Yoh’s touchy-feely with that editor guy, and Yoh smiles happily and fully at and with that editor guy, and Yoh’s tired from being with him. 

Anyway, the series takes place from June to July of year zero and that’s canon. There, I said it. 

Yoh moving in: April of year zero

As you can see from my shittily drawn ‘graph’, I place Yoh’s moving in with Segasaki at April. This tracks with the timeline and Nikke-sensei’s clarification as well as in-universe narrative of them only been living together for four months. But, I’m extra so I’m gonna explain why (I found out about sensei’s tweet after figuring out the timeline lol)... and it’s not just backtracking from July. 

So, in Japan, the year usually ‘starts’ in April; as in the school year and the fiscal year ends in March and starts in April. This applies to leases as well: contracts are usually for 2 years and will likely end in March. Housing is in very high demand during that time and the prices for each unit are also very expensive because of that. Of course, you can rent a unit any time of the year but the good ones are also mostly available and up for grabs in the March-April period. (Renting a unit in Japan is… an experience lol and not a fun one. My being a foreigner does not help one bit because many landlords do not accept foreign tenants no matter who you are, where you’re from, or what you’re in Japan for.) 

Anyways, as Yoh can see, I think that Yoh graduated in year zero… so, that’s a winter graduation some time in February. (People also graduate in summer some time in August but it’s much rarer because most Japanese enter uni in Spring (April). People who graduate in September are either those who extend their uni year or foreign students who enter during the Autumn intake in September because that’s when the English program school year start (in my department, at least… I entered in April and graduated my Master's 3 years later in February but it’s a somewhat special case.)

Anyway!!! Yoh graduates ‘this’ year so, that means his lease will be up too and it makes perfect sense for him to move with Segasaki around late March or early April. 

The proposal: mid-Feb —  late-March three years ago

I place the proposal at the end of Winter, beginning of Spring in year minus-three. Weather-wise, it’s plausible because we know that the day of the proposal was unusually warm for the time and February is easily one of the coldest months in Japan. And, even though Spring starts in March, warmth doesn’t really come around until later in the month or even April. (It snowed in March, once. In Tokyo. It rarely ever snows in Tokyo but it’s been snowing every other year since I came here.) 

I also headcanon that Segasaki graduated (his Master's) that minus-three year while Yoh is only in his second year of bachelor’s. My logic is that because he’s graduating, this could be his last desperate attempt to lock Yoh down and make sure Yoh’s spoken for (Yoh’s just a dumb-dumb who doesn’t recognize a proposal lol). It also makes sense for the proposal to come up at that period if we think about it… Mizuki’s graduating and Yoh could be asking him about his jobs after graduation and whatever else which, in turn, allows Mizuki to start a conversation about Yoh’s plan for the future. It’s also not uncommon for peeps to hang around uni before they start their jobs (for whatever reasons) so it makes sense to me that the proposal was in some time between Mizuki’s graduation in mid-Feb till late-March, when Yoh’s about to start his new school year and Segasaki will have to start his job. (This could be when Yoh finds out Segasaki will be working with EW and starts watching the broadcast religiously.) 

Job prospect-wise, it’s pretty solid. Segasaki’s confident that he’d be working in a high-paying job when he proposed to Yoh. If Segasaki’s graduating in year minus-three, then he’d extremely likely to already have a job lined up for him; he’s just gonna immediately enter the workforce right out of uni. This is very common in Japan. University graduates are socially expected and pressured into working immediately after finishing their studies which is why it’s common practice for them to start their job-hunting process during the second to last or last year at uni. It’s generally advised that they start second to last year in uni (B3 if you’re in your bachelor’s and M1 if you’re in your Master's) because the process is long and drawn out and it could be a very long time before a job is offered. It’s also ill-advised to do your job-hunting in your final year because final year can be very hectic for some; some B4 and M2 students need to write their thesis, do graduation projects, finish up their experiments, etc. it’s not fun to add job-hunting into the mix. So, even if the proposal happened right after Segasaki’s graduation, Segasaki would be confident that he’d be able to support both of them just fine. 

Why I don’t think Yoh did his job hunting 

I honestly don’t think Yoh did his job-hunting because:

As I talked about here, Yoh became anxious about jobs and job-hunting in general in Episode 5 and this could imply that he didn’t go through the process while he was in university. You could do it on your own, but it’s difficult. That’s why many students take advantage of the recruitment offered by universities. Many also make use of other public recruitment services. 

Yoh’s the kind of person who does things at his own pace and does what he wants. I.E. 1; Yoh is a slow walker who has always walked slow. Segasaki made a point of commenting about his pace but instead of increasing his speed to match that of his sempai’s, he continued at his own pace and said he’s been told that before, and Segasaki was forced to match his pace. Yoh’s aware of his snail's pace, he was criticized for it but said fuck all and went about walking at his speed anyway. This is very not-Japanese. I.E. #2; He doesn’t really care to socialize. That’s it, that’s the reason. I.E. #3; my guy used 俺 (ore) with the stranger seniors. Peeps aren’t expected to drop 俺 (ore) and go for 僕 (boku) when talking to seniors anymore but they’re strangers… he should be using 僕 (boku). I.E. #4; he made fucking curry rice for a sick person because that’s the only thing he can make. Curry rice. He could’ve googled how to make porridge but nah, curry rice lol. I.E. #5; arguing with his editor that the ‘I love you’ dialogue is necessary in his 20 pages long porn manga. I don’t man, Yoh’s not afraid to do his own shit and he totally seems like the kinda guy who’d fuck around and find out when it comes to his career. Which I think is why Yoh’s secured that he has a patron in Segasaki and decided not to do his job-hunting. 

Yoh & Segasaki’s first meeting: May —  June four years ago

I think Yoh first ‘met’ Segasaki four years ago; that’s his first year in university, and that would explain why he hasn’t seen Segasaki sooner. I placed their first meeting in May — June mainly because of their outfits. Everyone was wearing a Spring palette when we first saw them at the cafeteria, but they weren’t wearing any thick outer layers so that’s probably very late into Spring and early June. Their clothes also became progressively lighter throughout the flashback and, by the time Segasaki was sick, there were more layers on everyone again, esp. Segasaki, indicating that Autumn could’ve been around the corner. (Though this could just be due to the timing of the filming!)

Also, Segasaki’s friend asked for his notebook, implying that there’s a report/assignment/quiz coming up that he needs to prepare for. So, at least we know it’s definitely not the start of the semester.

On Mizuki’s Master’s level education 

I’ll be real… I’m entirely biased when it comes to Segasaki’s educational level. I have a Master's and I’m an old, I want my fav to be an old too haha. (I’m currently doing my PhD, it’s… going somewhere lmao) 

Anyway, I didn’t make him have a Master's just because… I think Segasaki has a position of seniority in the workplace despite his young age: he led the discussion and (I presume) implemented the new weather reporting system thing. He was also comfortable with rejecting the welcome dinner (���迎会 kangeikai) for Hiyoshi… and his co-workers, who are obviously his seniors, just accept it as it is. You don’t just reject invitations to after-work dinners/parties, 飲み会 (nomikai), especially not the kangeikai. It’s a party to welcome new members; rejecting it means you’re not a team player and unwilling to bond with your co-workers to cultivate a harmonious workplace relationship, which is a no-no in Japan (please read up on 和 (wa) if you’re interested in learning why), and definitely a no-no if you’re not high-up in position. (There’s a lot of politics going on in the background that I’m not very familiar with. I understand the most basics; like filling superior’s glasses, ‘hanging out’ with superiors, being frank and up-front and coming away unscathed, power-harassment bosses forcing people to drink, etc.) So, Segasaki must’ve entered the workplace in a relatively high position; which is achievable with a Master's. 

Interesting tidbit #1: did you know, you don’t get fired from a workplace in Japan? If the company wanna lay off people, they usually just close the entire department lol crazy, I know, but it’s legit. It’s why people can be employed for life at work.

Interesting tidbit #2: not many Japanese students go for a Master's but when they do, they usually enter right after their Bachelor’s. However, there are certain majors where having a Master’s is advantageous and students are generally encouraged to go for it. I.E. my major, Architecture and Urbanism, and Civil Engineering. These majors typically take 5 years of undergrad for students to qualify as practitioners. In Japan, their Bachelor’s only lasts for 4 years and a 2 years Master’s will put them on the same level as other practitioners from abroad. (I did 5 years of Undergrad in Architecture and Urbanism and another 3 years for my M.Arch degree lol and there are years to go until I get my Doctoral RIP)

wrote this whole thing bcs of this silly lil fic lmao

[toku-explained]

Dogengers Guide

With the 5th anniversary season coming soon, I figure it's high time to do a quick introduction to this most notable to Local Hero series. The 5th full entry comes in July, previous series having aired april-june for the past 4 seasons.

Dogengers is a Tokusatsu series featuring Local Heroes based primarily in Fukuoka prefecture, but a few heroes have also appeared from other regions. Many of these heroes are either corporate mascots or at least sponsored by local businesses. Dogengers is also notable for having featured a large number of veteran Tokusatsu actors from major series including 2 season's leads, plus voice actors for certain heroes, some suit actors, and supporting characters. The series has also consistently drawn in huge amounts of revenue for crowdfunding, allowing the successive series to be made.

While most heroes and villains are preexisting, each season's Focus hero is newly developed for that series.

Dogengers (March-June 2020)

The villainous Aku no Himitsu Kessya, lead by Yabai Kamen, claiming the power of the national treasure the Golden Seal, use it to finally defeat Fukuoka's heroes and take control. Tanaka Jiro, newly returned to Fukuoka after several years, is entrusted by Ohgaman with the power to become Rookie, Fukuoka's last hero, and now must round up the heroes and free Fukuoka from the villain's grasp.

Dogengers Episode 12.5: Episode of I-Doll (January 2021)

A crowdfunding rewards originally released on the Blu-ray box, serving as an epilogue to the original series.

Just as things seem to have finally been resolved, suddenly Yuki vanishes, alongside those precious items. Tanaka becomes desperate and tires to find them, unaware that I-Doll has been revived and are protecting Yuki, but someone else has also appeared. Tanaka's childhood hero, Great A. What will happen when Rookie and Great A come face to face?

Dogengers Nice Buddy (April-June 2021)

The Dogengers have ended their time as Fukuoka's premier heroes in scandal, and their spotlight has been taken by Hanagata Tokusatsu, who are reviving their Great Series with Ginga Shinsei Great Z. Great Z uses his Affect System to overwhelm the heroes and kidnaps Yabai Kamen to be the main villain. Hanagata Riku supervises Yabai Kamen's work. In order to reclaim their limelight, the Dogengers must work to rescue their enemy, even aligning with the villains to do so, and out outfitted with the perfect weapons for fighting in pairs, the Ohgaman's newly developed Buddy Buddy Buster.

Dogengers High School (April-June 2022)

Yamada Mako is an extraordinarily average girl in an exceptionally unusual town. Tired of her average life and not being able to do stand up to bad people, a chance encounter brings her to the spirit Kireko, who takes her as his master and grants her the ability to become Fukuoka's latest hero, MAKO. She must now contend with fighting villains alongside Kireko and her senpai heroes, working with her best friend Shichimi Ryoko to plan her classes cultural festival stand, contend with antagonism from class president Fushimi Akine and strict teacher Osogawa Tori, and find the courage to express her feelings to classmate Yoshihara Daisuke.

A Drama CD for the crowdfunding was entitled "Receptionist Kireko's Diary", seeing the character work for a month as a receptionist for Yamashiro Gas.

Dogengers High School: Return of Heshikiri Hasebe (September 2022, also produced as a Drama CD)

Mako has finally become a hero and saved Fukuoka, but whoops, they forgot to return Heshikiri Hasebe to the Fukuoka Museum, the Dogengers take a trip there now to return the ancient sword.

Dogengers Metropolis (April-June 2023)

The battles between heroes and villains have been making things difficult for both the police and the Yakuza. While the Oshikawa Group created the android Yuz-Yuz, who aligns with Aku no Himitsu Kessya while being compelled to steal important items of the Dogengers, while the Metropolitan Police have funded the creation of the special armour SP110-Px, aka Hyakutoban, and granted it to junior patrolman Shiraishi Meguru, as he is assigned by Shoko Sakurada to the Dogengers, alongside his captain Masayoshi Yoriki and instructor Akutagawa Tadasumi. As he and Yuz-Yuz continue to encounter eachother, will she come to understand herself, and can the police finally get Aku no Himitsu Kessya off the streets for good.

A Yuz-Yuz Picture Book, and a drama CD entitled "Land of Shura Steam Murder Case", were rewards for the crowdfunding campaign.

The Land of Shura's I-deal ~Dogengers 99 Years Later~ (2022-2023)

In the distant future, the Affect System has been redeveloped into the Ideal Reality System, leading to more and more heroes, heroes are only legally allowed to operate by being affiliated with a company. Kujiki Kei, who admires the legendary Dogengers, sets out to become the Hero I-Deal, as Fukuoka finds itself besieged by the Lifted, monstrous enemies in the image of the long dead Aku no Himitsu Kessya.

A Day of Ohgaman (September 2023)

A documentary crew captures a day of Ohgaman's life, his busy work as CEO of Ohga Pharmacy and fighting villains.

Shin Dogengers (July-September 2024)

The Dogengers have been fighting successfully for five years. But Yabai Kamen, who has been defeated many times and had many forms, is ready to make his counterattack.

[evaglass]

Adding More Backstory to Tang Shen

I wish 2012 had told us more about Tang Shen. Not much was told except that she was born in Fukuoka, was 1/4th Chinese, and was a woman both Splinter and Shredder were in love with.

Also, there's a line Shen says at one point, which involves her saying, "I can take care of myself; I've always have." Giving the idea, she grew up in tough circumstances. We never hear anything about her parents, if she was orphaned or not. We know her grandparents were present in her life, and I looked up information about the city of Fukuoka, which is stated to be a fairly safe place. I wish that line was explored more, but it just feels like the writers put it there for some brief moment of angst.

There was also a bit of writing inconsistencies. In season one, episode 26, there are these lines of dialogue I got from the episode's transcript when Splinter and Shredder are fighting

But then, in season 3, in the Tale of the Yokai episode, there's this scene

Yeahh, I believe I found a way to explain this in my rewrite of 2012, but for now, I want to talk about my rewrite of Shen.

I was thinking of making Shen a Taiwanese woman of 100% Chinese descent. She was really close to her father, but unfortunately, he died when she was still a child.

Shen's mother raised her and Shen's younger sister as a single mother with the help of Shen's older brother, who stepped up to provide for his family after their father died.

Shen was a very studious and hardworking young lady, but also a little bit rebellious as she was very set on the choices she made for herself, whether her mother approved or not.

She got accepted to Cambridge University, where she majored in history and minored in linguistics, as she had a passion for history like her father, and wanted to become a historian.

After she graduated from her undergraduate program, she entered her PhD. program for history, where in the last few years of said program, she worked part-time on her dissertation while also working as an English teacher in Japan.

During her time in Japan, she met Shredder and Splinter. Shen met Shredder first; they became friends, and soon both developed feelings for each other. When Shen tried to make a move, Shredder rejected it, as he wanted to focus on the future of the Hamato Clan and gain the approval of his adoptive father, Hamato Yuuta; he also wanted to respect her dream of becoming a historian, and not distract her from it. Shen was embarrassed but respected his decision and agreed just to be friends.

Shen and Splinter don't get together until a little bit later. Actually, when they first met, they didn't like each other at all as their first impression of each other wasn't great. However, they, of course, do come to respect each other after Splinter helped Shen when her car broke down at the side of the road. Shen and Splinter later become friends and then develop feelings for each other, which surprised both of them, especially Shen, as Splinter was someone she did not expect.

I like to think that as they spent more time together, Shen felt more comfortable talking about her passion and also introduced Splinter about the history of the Renaissance Painters.

She does graduate from her PhD. program, but also accidentally gets pregnant because the portrait Splinter has looked like a wedding photo.

I also thought about how Shen was able to find out about how brutal the war between the Hamato and Foot Clan before Splinter does, seeing how it involved the never-ending cycle of revenge. Finding that out, Tang Shen never wanted her daughter to get involved with ninjitsu.

Look at the way Shen looks at her baby daughter; she would've done anything for her.

She wanted Karai to have a normal life, and that's staying in my rewrite, but I also want to explain why she would push Splinter to leave ninjitsu to go to New York with her to raise their daughter; the history between both clans would play a big part with that, as well as her love for Splinter, but also Shen would still be traumatized from losing her father at a young age, and didn't want her daughter growing up without her father.

But unfortunately, Shen dies. I'm keeping Shen's death the same way it happened in the show, but yeah, that was my rewrite. Let me know what you guys think.

[massivemochi]

Love Live! TV Anime Official Book - Special Interview with Composer Yoshiaki Fujisawa

In celebration of the "Love Live! Anime 10th Anniversary Orchestra Concert," I've translated the special interview with Yoshiaki Fujisawa, the composer for the "Love Live!" anime, from the Love Live! TV Anime Official Book!

This is my first time translating something by myself, so I apologize for any errors.

Direct quotes from the anime are from the FFF fansub.

The main theme contains all of my initial inspiration for "Love Live!". Without it, the soundtrack for the show wouldn't be complete…!

Composer: Yoshiaki Fujisawa

Born in Fukuoka Prefecture. From composing and arranging songs for top artists to providing soundtracks for anime productions, he is a music creator active in a variety of genres. His major works include the TV anime series "GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri," among many others.

Background music, or a soundtrack, which sometimes subtly enhances the story or highlights the emotions of the characters, is an essential part of any production. The last of these special interviews is with Yoshiaki Fujisawa, the musician in charge of the soundtrack for "Love Live!"!

The first keywords were "hot-blooded passion" He was conscious of creating songs that expand the world of the deeply emotional μ's members

―How did you come to be in charge of the music for the "Love Live!" TV anime?

I was originally a song composer, but I'd started to do some work on soundtracks as well, and I was thinking I'd like to try my hand at more of that kind of work when I was approached to do it. I remember being very happy, partly because the timing was good. I'd heard of "Love Live!" through gossip at song competitions. I was under the impression it was about idols, but when the words "club activities" and "hot-blooded passion" came up at our first meeting, I knew exactly what kind of show it'd be. From then on, I completely changed my mindset. I wanted the songs to express the positivity and liveliness typical of teenage girls. I believe this is a time when girls are troubled by small things, thinking various thoughts, and full of emotions, so I wrote the songs with this in mind to expand such feelings.

―Seeing as "Love Live!" is the first time you've been responsible for the soundtrack of a single production by yourself, what were some of the most significant challenges you faced?

Making forty to fifty songs in one go. I'd never made that many songs at once. It was all new to me, so it was like I was building my workflow from scratch while making them. Each song was created differently, and the number of recording sessions and time allotted to each was different, so it was difficult to think about all the details. But most of all, I was afraid I'd make the world too small…. I was very concerned with how I could make the world bigger and wider, even within the scope of what was presented. The setting is the school and the Akiba area, which isn't really that big, but perhaps to μ's, who are high school students, that's all there is to the world. Looking back on it now, I think the key point was how I could bring the breadth of the world to them.

―Which songs in particular did you make with a conscious effort to expand the world?

Take "Hanarebanare (Apart)," for example, which plays in episode twelve of the first season when Honoka quits being a school idol. I thought it best to play up the depression in the song to the point that it sounds as if someone is going to die. It's such a shocking event for Honoka's friends, and I think when someone is truly in despair, they feel like they can't see a way forward. Especially when a girl like Honoka says she is quitting, she must be on the edge. If I were to take it easy on her, it'd just make it sentimental, so I made it as if I was kicking her down to rock bottom (laughs). "Hanayo no Ketsui (Hanayo's Decision)" from episode four of the first season is another song that expands the imagery to push Hanayo's back in a grandly powerful way. On the other hand, for a similar friendship scene in episode three of the first season involving the three second-years, I remember writing "Yuujou (Friendship)" with the aim to focus rather than expand. It feels like it's contained within them alone.

From memorable songs such as the main theme to songs used in unexpected scenes! Many stories about the composing process!

―What was the first song you wrote?

The main theme, "Hajimari no Asa (Morning of Beginning)". This song contains all of my initial inspiration for the soundtrack of "Love Live!". Without it, the soundtrack for the show wouldn't be complete. I finished the melody and composition very fast as if the idea I had in my head just popped out. The other song I was able to write without hesitation was "Nozomi no Mune no Uchi (Within Nozomi's Heart)" from episode eight of the second season. The story is connected to "Snow halation," and it depicts Nozomi's thoughts and feelings from her childhood to the present, as well as her contributions to μ's, so I had a clear image of what the song would be about. I felt like I was able to create it quickly from the get-go. For the second season, I had some sense of the direction, so it was easier to grasp the main points.

―Was it easier to write songs for the second season?

Of course, after doing the first season, I had set a basic atmosphere for the world. However, since the last part of the story is about the end of μ's, it was difficult to find ways to express that. I wanted to do things I didn't do in the first season, so I tried various approaches, including changing the manner in which I wrote the songs. For instance, in the aforementioned "Nozomi no Mune no Uchi," I tried to do what I couldn't do in "Hanayo no Ketsui," which was to create a gentle image that envelops the listener. "Kinpaku (Tension)" from episode four of the second season is also notable. It's the song in the scene where they're worrying if they'll pass the preliminaries or not. There's a part where Nico crushes her strawberry milk carton and it squirts everywhere (laughs). If they don't make it here, it might be the end. In that sense, it's the most tense scene, but I thought it'd be uninteresting if I just built up the tension in a serious way. I wanted to express the panic of the girls in the music as well.

―Was there any song that was used unexpectedly?

"Yume no Ato (Echo of a Dream)," which plays before μ's perform their encore in episode twelve of the second season. It was originally supposed to play during the rooftop scene in episode thirteen. You can imagine my surprise when it instead ended up in the scene before the encore. This song is very memorable to me because I completely reworked the melody in the middle. It's the original up to the chorus, which is the most climactic part, but the rest of the song was totally different at first. It didn't feel right no matter how many times I listened to it, so I erased the whole block because I felt the melody was out of place. Maybe that's why it worked in the encore instead, but I think it's an interesting phenomenon. It's a simple song with only piano and strings, but the string performance was so emotional it gave me goosebumps while recording it, even though I wrote it myself (laughs). We discussed using it in episode thirteen as planned, but the director wanted to end it on a softer note, so we ended up using a variation of the main theme titled "Urei no Yuugure (Dusk of Sorrow)". This song does indeed have more of a feeling of coming to a close.

―Are there any other songs that were used in unexpected ways?

The intro of "Alisa" was used in the scene where Eli first appears. That phrase has been used quite a bit since then, and it seems to have become the song of the Ayase sisters (laughs). Another unexpected song was ">ω</". It was supposed to be a song for Honoka's house, Homura. I didn't think Rin-chan would take it (laughs). Also, if you look at the series as a whole, "Hanayo no Ketsui" is used in many scenes involving the first-years. As I'm sure the fans are aware, it was used in episode five of the second season when Rin-chan is pushed by Hanayo and the others and in episode eleven of the second season when Maki-chan tells Nico she'll continue being a school idol at the beach. When I think about it, I feel "Hanayo's decision" was what ended up pulling all the first-years together. The song gained that meaning as well.

―How did you create "Zenkai no Love Live! (Last Time on Love Live!)," which appears in almost every episode?

I knew it'd be distracting to make it too melodious because of the narration, but it wouldn't be entertaining if it was just static, so I found a good balance between the two. I wanted it to have a lively impression, so I decided to use the trumpet as the main instrument. Then, by coincidence, in the opening sequence of the first season, there was a shot of Honoka blowing a trumpet, and I knew I'd made the right choice. I was surprised to hear her singing along to it in the second season. In a way, this might've been the most unexpected song (laughs).

We also asked Mr. Fujisawa about his favorite scene from the TV anime series & μ's song♪!!

―What scene from the TV anime series particularly left an impression on you?

The scene in episode eight of the first season where Eli joins μ's. Specifically, the sequence of scenes from the songs "Eli no Yaritai Koto (What Eli Wants to Do)" to "μ's no Hajimari (The Beginning of μ's)". The interaction between Eli and Nozomi, as well as hearing the sound of voices practicing in the distance, really left an impression on me. When Eli says, "I'd do what I wanted if it could get me somewhere!" that's a restraint for people. The members of μ's, especially Honoka, took that restraint away. In contrast to Eli, Honoka has the mentality of doing things because she wants to do them, and even if someone is holding back, she gives them the push they need. I had that idea in mind for "μ's no Hajimari," so I put a synth bass in with the orchestra. I thought it needed that heartbeat.

―Do you have a favorite μ's song?

"Bokura no LIVE Kimi to no LIFE (Our LIVE and LIFE with You)" is a great song. "Yume no Tobira (The Door to Our Dreams)" and "Dancing stars on me!" as well. Although "Bokura no LIVE~" isn't the main theme, I like it because it feels like the group's initial inspiration. The melody of "Yume no Tobira" is simply great, and even though they saw their rivals give an incredible performance right in front of them, they sang it without losing their way, so I can feel their will in this song. On that same note, even though they were unsure about it and tried on different costumes, "Dancing stars~" is also a song they sang in their own way in the end.

―What do you think the appeal of "Love Live!" is?

I think the appeal, up to and including the movie, is that the girls tried to do something with determination. From the beginning to the end, even when they faced obstacles, they thought things over, made sound decisions, and kept moving forward without giving up. That passion is obviously appealing. In episode nine of the second season, there's a scene where Honoka, Umi, and Kotori head to the venue in the snow, and even the two who seemed to be following Honoka up to that point expressed their feelings of being involved of their own volition. Rather than going with the flow, they each made their decision on their own accord. That implies they're taking responsibility for themselves. I think that's why they shine so strongly.

―From what you've said so far, it sounds as if you've been making the soundtrack in a way that empathizes with the feelings of μ's. Is that because it's "Love Live!"? Or do you do the same for other productions?

There are characters in every story, of course, so I consider that in other productions as well. But as for "Love Live!," I had the strong impression those nine girls were driving the story, so perhaps I was thinking more about what they were feeling.

―Please give us a closing message!

I'd like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude by saying thank you and also to say "Love Live!" is not only a fun show but also one that cheers you up when you watch it, so if you're ever troubled or stuck in a rut, I'd urge you to watch it. If there are people around you who aren't sure whether to make a move or not, please encourage them to make a move like Honoka did!!

[sunskate]

you hear about him chewing his nails and plastic bottle tops, but she chews her fingers on the show too

that’s her wrist in the right pic. it’s probably a common bracelet, but i never noticed they’re wearing a very similar one

their schedule for the 2013-14 season Aug 19-21 "Bruce Craven -working on mechanics" 🥺 this is the physio guy who taught her how to use her legs to hurt less 22nd-26th off 27th media interview

Sep 4-7 Skate Canada High Performance Camp 9th Skate Canada intensive training [wait, did the show fudge this timeline? they made it sound like he left right after the 2nd day of HPC, but the 6th was Friday, the 9th is Monday, when he said they’d be in Canton] 10th-18th off 19th monitoring session 28th-29th England? (what's this?)

Oct 3-6 competition Finland [Finlandia] 7-22nd off (14th Thanksgiving) 23rd fly to St. John [Skate Canada] 24th practice in St. John 25-27th St. John Competition

Nov 1st-12th off 13th fly to Paris 15th-17th The Trophee Eric Bompard, ISU Grand Prize, Paris France 18th fly to Toronto 19th-30th off

Dec 1st-4th off 5th-8th Grand Prix Final Fukuoka Japan 9th-31st off 25th Christmas

Jan 1st -31st nothing scheduled

Feb 1st-6th nothing scheduled 7th-23rd OLYMPICS 24th-28th

"off" seems to mean they don't have outside stuff, not that they're not training. and lol that Canadian Nationals is "nothing scheduled" in January

[hideyseek]

ahhhhh kakehai for 15 (things you said with too many miles between us) please!!

craaaaaaaaaaaaaab hi!!! everyday i appreciate you for encouraging my kakehai writing!! here are some words about haiji and kakeru and shoelaces, ten years after canon.

(from the things you said prompts)

Haiji nearly drops the plate he's washing when he hears it. 

Even the interviewer, it seems, is surprised enough to cough onscreen and say with open curiosity, "Really, Kurahara-san? Shoelaces?"

But Kakeru turns to look seriously at the camera and says, "It's true. The way I lace my shoes is the same way my college track captain used to. I made him sit down with me, the afternoon of his graduation ceremony, just to show me.” He laughs, and to Haiji’s ears he sounds wistful. “I wonder what he thought of that.” 

Haiji had forgotten, but he remembers it now — the cherry blossoms in Kakeru’s hair, the unbearably blue sky. The way his hands had trembled when he’d leant over to tie the knot with Kakeru’s laces. How absolutely certain Haiji had been, in that moment, that there was nothing between them to start. 

Onscreen, Kakeru is smiling at the camera, an unexpected curl to his mouth. "I wouldn't be anywhere near here if I hadn't met him. I truly believe that joining the Kansei ekiden team changed the course of my life.” He ducks his chin. The tips of his ears are pink, even in the studio lighting. "Anyway. I owe him a lot. I suppose the lacing was, selfishly, a way to keep him in my life after he left running."

"There you have it," the interviewer says. "Kurahara Kakeru, Japanese national team marathon runner, on the greatest influences of his running life.”

“Thank you very much,” Kakeru says, bobbing politely. Haiji can’t tear his eyes from the screen. A way to keep him in my life after he left running. 

The interviewer continues, “Kurahara-san’s college running career culminated in running Section 10 of the Hakone ekiden three years in a row, breaking his previous record each time. Kurahara-san will be one of our guest broadcasters for this year’s ekiden, please be sure to tune in next week to catch his segment!”

The show cuts to commercial and Haiji lunges for his phone. Even as he's dialing he has no idea what he'll say, and no idea how long ago this segment was filmed, only that he can't just — leave that said without a response.

There's a thirteen hour drive between them, but he can close it with a call.

The line clicks over to voicemail. Kakeru's voice — Haiji's heart thuds — says, dry and rote, "It's Kurahara Kakeru. Please leave a message."

"Kakeru," Haiji says. It's been years since he addressed Kakeru by name. He’s always Kurahara-san when he comes up in the newsroom at work. 

Haiji doesn’t know what to say next. His university self would have found a way to just — start talking, shrouding the truth in layers of misdirection, discovering what he meant to say midway through and talking in circles until it was hidden again. But now, a decade later, he just wants to get to the point.

“I saw your interview,” Haiji says. He chews at the inside of his cheek, and adds, “I remembered you asking me to teach you how I tie my racing shoes. Only after you said it, though.” He paces a slow circle in his kitchen. It’s easier to say this, knowing that Kakeru will only hear it later. “I don’t know your racing schedule, but … if your season brings you here to Fukuoka, I would like to meet up, or — dinner, perhaps, if you would like. I’ve mi—”

The line clicks again and for a moment Haiji thinks he's run out of time. But then, a breath over the line and Kakeru's voice, worried, says, "Is this ... Haiji-san? Is something wrong?"

Of course he’d think that. They’ve barely texted in the decade since Haiji’s graduation. Calling like this…

“Nothing’s wrong,” Haiji says. “I’m sorry to call you so suddenly. I — I watched your interview. The teaser for the ekiden broadcast.”

“Oh,” Kakeru says. A surprised little laugh. “Really?”

“I watch most of your interviews,” Haiji admits. “This time, I just wanted to—” This had been so much easier without Kakeru on the other line. “I remembered, after you said it. When you asked me to show you how I laced my racing shoes.” 

“Ah,” Kakeru says. He sounds embarrassed. 

Haiji almost says: I didn’t think there was something between us, then. I thought it was just me. “I was happy to do it,” Haiji says instead, as firmly as he knows how. “It made me happy that you asked.” It’s been years. The circumstances have changed. They’ll be different people, when they meet again. 

“Come to the team reunion this year, Haiji-san,” Kakeru says. Haiji can hear the tentative smile in his voice. He presses his phone closer to his ear to hear Kakeru add, “It hasn’t been the same without you there.”

The rush of wind outside Haiji’s apartment window. The feeling of a new beginning rising in his chest.

“I’ll be there, Kakeru,” Haiji says. “I’ve missed you.”

[myjunkisyuzuruhanyu]

I mean, seeing what the ISU Awards has become... do we really want Shoma (and Stephane) to be involved in that mess? It's so... self-celebratory, lol. The phrase "I'll scratch your back if you'll scratch mine" comes to mind. Saw a FS fan who was at Zurich tweeted that the crowd don't even know or care much about the skaters when they were given awards... honestly even Stephane, a Switzerland citizen (!!!) chose to go to Tokyo this week to do dance classes and watch the Paris Opera Ballet. Anyway if people really want to watch a really good ice show, Daisuke's ice show KASSOUYA in Fukuoka was also running this weekend and they allow fancams... from what I can see on X/Twitter it's much better than AOI, sorry not sorry.

KASSOUYA seems indeed a wonderful ice show. The snippets look very cool. I wonder what brought them to allow fancams and if they keep it that way or only because they wanted to promote the show in sns 🤔 In Japan ice shows are growing. I am glad for every opportunity for the skaters.

In a way Shoma is involved in the award anyway. He was in the nominations, even if he didn't win. Not that this award has any sort of negative or positive impact on anyone really. I think Shoma would just deserve more recognition by the ISU. That's all, not that the award itself is worth anything. I guess nobody will be remembered for earning a skating award. Yet Shoma and Kaori not winning against Ilia when Ilia is here for two seasons and did get one title only feels odd. If it's solely on social media engagement well than Adam's backflip gained huge attention at Euros, Kaori's SP last season was literally retweeted by Janet Jackson herself, Livia Kaiser's FS was retweeted by Rachel Zegler and beside that it shows that ISU is not aware of what Shoma did for the sport. OPOI brought another crowd to figure skating. (SOI in the US just got canceled for the season for a lack of interest as it appears btw) But ofc this whole award show is playing into the hand of those ppl who always had a say in skating North America and Europe. Ilia's management is practically involved in the show, so winning an award two times in a row - one which was just invented for him last season - a devlish thought may come to mind 🙃

I think the crowd for an ice show is different than for a competition. At Nebelhorn Trophy usually the arena is more packed for the gala than for the actual competition. Those ppl there don't come bc of the names of the skaters, they come for a fun evening like going to the circus. I also went couple of times to Holiday on Ice, I was also at Disney on Ice (ice shows that come to my hometown are an easy choice to go to). At Holiday on Ice last year Papadakis/Cizeron were invited and I totally chose a date where they would perform in the show bc of them, however in the crowd most ppl didn't know who they were and didn't care. They liked their performance but you could see just a few excited fans. You can see by the reactions to the jumps (which are usually just doubles) that the cast performs there that ppl don't come bc of the sport but bc of the show. They would clap as enthusiatically for a double than for a triple. So I am not surprised the ppl didn't care much for the winners at Art on Ice, most ppl there probably didn't even know them but came for an ice show.

Stephane performed often on Art on Ice so I don't think it had anything to do with that, probably didn't rather fit his schedule. Makes you wonder though if he would have won if he would have performed there. Because very comically all winners were also present at Art on Ice...🙃

Maybe Shoma didn't win because he would not attend Art on Ice at this point of the season 🤔😂 just kidding...

I am not against those ppl that won at all, even happy for Deanna Stellato Dudek, she deserves the world as a role model. Just being the only Pairs skater to even get anything is showing how much ISU cares for all disciplines. Also the nominations of most categories just show that ice dance and Pairs have no value.

[triptychgrip]

A non-exhaustive list of things Yuuri and Viktor would write fanfiction about

Viktor would write a “fix-it” fic* to make up for his “Oops! Watch the nosebleed!” failure to catch Yuuri at the Chu-Shikoku-Kyushu regionals. He’d do so not only because of his own guilt around prioritizing his designer suit (which he’d throw away in shame), but also b/c Yuuri’s fans would never let him live that moment down, lol. I think Phichit would create a calendar appt set to repeat every September 25th (until the end of time), to remind Viktor of how he heartlessly let Yuuri fall to the floor, complete w/ exaggerated GIFs and memes. Kenjirou would probably join in

Because he is just as extra as his fiance (and feels bad for not remembering it), Yuuri would get Christophe/Yurio/Mila’s help to write a fic in which he DID remember the Sochi banquet. In this iteration, not only does he thrash Yurio in a dance-off and sweep Viktor off of his feet, but he — very shyly and very awkwardly — knocks on Viktor’s hotel room door the next morning, carrying an assortment of Japanese hangover remedies

After about a month goes by with no word from Yuuri post-Sochi, Viktor would take any breaks he can afford when not training for Europeans or Worlds to write the most extremely fanciful fanfic as an outlet for his pining/heartbreak, because…well, duh. Each of these stories would include extremely plausible reasons for why Yuuri just couldn’t contact him (none of which, obviously, involve the fact that he was trashed beyond belief). His favorite one includes the fact that Yuuri is actually a highly trained assassin working for the Japanese govt, who decides not to get in contact with Viktor because he doesn’t want his enemies to put a target on Viktor’s back. Oh, the gallantry!

As Viktor approaches his 30th birthday, Yuuri would note his increasing reluctance to acknowledge the milestone. Taking Georgi’s predictably dramatic advice, he’d surprise Viktor with a time travel fanfic*, one that is admittedly a bit trite in its “I’ll love you no matter what age you are, Vitya” theme, but that delights Viktor, nonetheless…especially when he notes that Yuuri only has eyes for him, even though his younger, 18 year old self is outrageously flirty with his fiancé. (Georgi, failing to note that this isn’t supposed to be an angst fic, would beg Yuuri to up the ante on the crying)

When Viktor tears his meniscus during the 2011 off-season, Yuuri writes a fic in which they meet by way of Viktor being sent to a famed healing/rehabilitation clinic in Fukuoka. In this fic, Yuuri actually would decide to go home to Hasetsu in the off-season, meaning he would not only get to know Viktor, but also reunite with his sweet poodle 😭

Seeing how anxious Yuuri is during the planning of their wedding, Viktor — in a very sweet but misguided way — decides to write him a crack-y fanfic in which just about everything that can go wrong on the day of, does go wrong. This is sort of meant to be a “see, Yuuri?! Even with all of that terrible stuff happening, the day still turned out perfect, because I got to marry you!” kind of thing, and even though Yuuri nearly has a panic attack while reading it, he ultimately does derive comfort from it (and he also triple checks that Otabek as their DJ does not actually intend to play any risqué music at the reception that will send his elderly relatives into states of catatonic shock, as happens in the fic)

Bonus: After losing some kind of drunken bet, Yurio writes a fic that he then forces Yuuri and Viktor to role-play. In it, all of Viktor’s hair falls off the day after Onsen on Ice. Ashamed to be seen like this by Yuuri, Viktor hightails it back to St. Petersburg and grovels at Yurio’s feet for forgiveness

If you’ve read my “fic-ception” series in which Yuuri and Viktor jointly write (and publish) a sappy/smutty friends-to-lovers and role-reversal story starring their fictional selves, you probably aren’t surprised to hear that this very meta concept has completely taken over my brain.

While writing Put It In Reverse For Thirst, I couldn’t help but ideate around the kinds of things Yuuri and Viktor might explore in the wondrous world of fanfiction, both before they got together, and afterwards.

Above are just a few of the ideas that came to mind…I’ll probably make a part 2! What else do you think they’d write fanfic about? I think the possibilities are endless.

*these are ideas I have in the works for potential stories. My WIPs folder is a disaster