#Shinkai buddy what happened

[sapphixxx]

well. 5 Centimeters per Second still makes me cry my eyes out.

[yunsdreamworld]

Observer of the Celestial Pilgrimage -  Throne of the Stellar: King of Bestia

Again, this one might have some sentences that sound a bit weird as I’m still trying to get the hang of Japanese sentence structure –> English sentence structure. More of my translations here.

Observer of the Celestial Pilgrimage -  Throne of the Stellar

Story 16 - King of Bestia

Hope: Bestia's royal palace, I sure is quiet……. It's spacious and gorgeous, though. Lazu: The impression is different from the harbour before. Shinkai: I wonder if it's because it is the deity's body……. Hope: Eh, deity? Now that you mention it, wasn't there a face at the entrance? Erin: Heehh. That face is the face of a deity? Shinkai: I don't know. Hope: ……hm? Erin: When talking to flute buddy, your head gets dizzy. Fang: ……sorry for the wait. I arranged the matter with the castle's people. Let's directly head to the audience room. Hope: G-got it! Coda: ……heehh, the audience room, huh? Hope: ……Coda? Somehow, you seem more nervous than usual? Coda: O-of course I am. We're about to meet Bestia's king. Coda: Honestly, I want to return to the ship……. Hope: Could it be that the king is a super scary person or something like that……? Coda: Not at all! He's a wonderful person! Hope: ……i-is that so? Have you met him before, Coda? Coda: Even without meeting him, all of Bestia's nations knows. After all, this star is a good star. Hope: Heee. Coda: On Bestia, no one has to worry about feeding and everyone lives fun lives in their own way. It's thanks to the king's generosity and wise reign. Coda: Even at Dadan's harbour, they often talk about the king. All Bestian's like the king. Fang: Hee. There's such talk in the city? Coda: That's right. Though you wouldn't know, I guess, since you always disappear exactly during business. Fang: Hahaha. I got scolded again. Coda: I see. If Coda says that much, I'm sure he's a good person! Coda: Of course, he is! Fang: ……we've arrived at the audience room. Well then, let's go, I guess. Hope, Coda: ……! Coda: On the other side of this door, the king……. Hope: So-somehow, even I'm getting nervous……. SFX: *creaking* Coda: Aaah, the door opened……, huh? Coda: There's no one here? Hope: Even though there is a throne, it's empty. Lazu, Shinkai: …………. Erin: You guys really haven't noticed? Hope: Eh? Coda: Not noticed what……? Coda: -, wa-wa-wai, Fang!? Why are you sitting on the throne!? Fang: Why you say, this is my throne after all. Coda: …………huh? Fang: Bestia's king is me. Hope, Coda: ………………? Hope, Coda: Eh−−−−−−−−!?!? Hope: Eh, this, this is a joke, right!? I mean, Fang is Burst Roar's leader……. Coda: I can't laugh at your joke at all! Fang: It's fine not to laugh. It's not a joke, after all. Erin: Ahaha! Both of your surprised faces are funny! Hope: Eeeh……. I mean, Erin, could it be that you noticed!? Erin: Of course. I am the attendant of Lama's king, you know? I knew about Fang-san from the beginning as well. Hope: Then, why didn't you say so!? Erin: Why you say……. Hey, Lazu? Lazu: Because Fang-sama's social status seems to have been hidden. Fang: It's not as if I was hiding it. There was just no opportunity to say it. Hope: That's the same!!! Hope: I mean, Lazu knew as well. ……don't tell me Shinkai did as well!? Shinkai: Vaguely……. Like he is Sardinia-sama's friend. Hope: It seems fitting and slightly off……. Hope: Haah……. That means, he should be acquainted with the kings of the other stars as well. Coda: …………it. Hope: Eh? Fang: What's wrong, Coda? Did you say something? Coda: I did……. ……I said I can't believe it!!! Fang: ……! Coda: Why didn't you say anything after travelling together for how many years?! No matter how you put it, isn't that impossible?! Fang: Because I wasn't asked. Coda: Huuuh!? As if there's someone on your own ship who would ask "are you the king" or such!? Fang: Hahaha! But even though I didn't say it, it wasn't a problem for the journey, was it? Coda: It definitely is! Right now, here, a huge problem is occurring! Hope: Co-Coda……! Speaking to the king in such a manner……. Coda: Damn……!? Look at……please look at what happens to my position being swung by y……you! (1) Fang: Ahaha! It's fine how it has been until now. Whatever it's as the king or the leader, nothing changes. Coda: That's completely wrong! Fang: They are the same. Coda: −−! Fang: I went on that journey borrowing Coda's assistance in order to learn things like the culture of other stars and the way of thinking of other people as Bestia's king. Fang: While engaging in trading with you guys, I engraved all the events I came across during the journey into this mind and heart with the senses of my own eyes and ears. Fang: Regardless of whatever it's the king or a travelling merchant, both are me. There is no difference. Coda: ………………. Coda: Good grief……. What's with that extreme story. Coda: Haah. I'm done. I'm already used to your absurd style. Fang: Thank you, Coda. Coda: ……hmph. Fang's Attendant: My King. The Star Gem Fragment's room's preparations were put in order. Fang: Is that so? Fang: Even though there are things wanting to be said as well, let's continue later. Right now, there are things that ought to take priority. Hope: ……yeah! Fang: Everyone, please follow me to the Star Gem's room. 

Coda: That is the Star Gem Fragment……? Hope: It's amazing……. It's transparent and a really beautiful green colour……. Enough that I want to always look at it. Fang: It's your first time seeing the real thing, right, Hope? Hope: Yeah. Coda: I'm glad Bestia's fragment is all right. Fang: Yeah. For the time being. Hope: ……hm? Hope: ……I wonder what it is. My chest area seems warm……. Hope: I wonder if it's just my imagination……. Lazu: It seems to be all right for the present, but how are we going to protect the fragment from here on? Erin: That's right. We don't know when the black-clothed man will appear again. Fang: Regarding that, I've already taken measures. Lazu: What kind of? Fang: Tomorrow, I'm planning to hold a ceremony and strengthen the barrier. Fang: No matter how resourceful the thief is, if the barrier is completed, he shouldn't be able to interfere. Hope: Is that so!? I'm glad……! Coda: Tonight, if we defend the fragment, we will manage somehow. Erin: Good, good. That's a relief. Fang: ………….is what I would like to say, some uneasiness remains. Fang: I guess it will be necessary that I protect the Star Gem Fragment in the royal palace from here on. Coda: Fang, you……. Fang: Burst Roar's journey is over with this. Hope, Coda: ……!! Hope: You must be kidding……. That's too sudden! Fang: From the start, it was a journey initiated to widen my knowledge of the world. And it's not like I can leave the castle empty forever. Fang: Midway, it became my primary goal to ascertain the turbulent movements revolving around the Star Gem Fragments, though. Fang: Right now, the mission I have to accomplish as a king is to protect this star, this nation and the Star Gem Fragment. Hope: Even though that is so, however……. Coda: Really……. You're always so sudden……. Fang: Coda……. Coda: Weren't you the one who invited me to travel together?! Coda: And yet……. Fang: ……I'm sorry. Coda: …………! Hope: ……ah, Coda! Hope: Wait, Coda!! Fang: …………. Erin: Ah−ah. They left. Fang-san, is that really all right? Fang: It's neither good nor bad. With the current state of affairs, the things I ought to accomplish are obvious. Erin: ……heehh? Shinkai: It seems to become a troublesome night……. Lazu: …………. 

To continue….

(1) Coda starts with saying his usual casual "you" before adding on "-sama", which signifies respect, after a pause. I felt using the old "thee" would have been too much so I left it at that. 

[ahgaru]

[Day6 fanfic] Don’t Stop the Rain (Chapter 6)

Pairing: Jae x Reader (Fluff)

Characters: Day6. minor mentions of Got7 Word count: 3,621

Summary:  It’s frustrating when it’s raining and you don’t have your umbrella with you. But that frustrating moment could turn into a romantic one when there’s an attractive guy holding an umbrella beside you–like those in books, movies or dramas, where the guy would offer to share his umbrella. A new love could bloom–or not.

Chapter 1: Umbrella Chapter 2: Chicken Chapter 3: Coffee Chapter 4: Interest Chapter 5: Burn Chapter 6: Please

You’re staring at the warm hand gripping yours. You can feel how the owner of the hand is forcing himself to hold yours tightly when he doesn’t even have much energy.

You were quite startled when he abruptly grabbed your hand when you stood up after putting a wet towel on his forehead. The girl on the phone asked you to look after the Chicken Guy because she can’t go to the apartment herself since it’s still raining hard.

“D-don’t—“, he tries voicing and he seems having a hard time speaking “don’t leave,” his grasp loosen a bit but he tries tightening it as if begging (‘forcing’ if he’s in his normal state) you not to go.

Still looking at your hands in contact, you take a gulp. “I’m—I’m not leaving,” you look away “I’m just going to drink a glass of water.”

He remains clasping your hand for another five seconds before letting it go. You get out of his room only to lean back on the door and put a hand on your chest to let the wild beating calm. The back of your hand gently taps your cheek as if checking if your face is hot. Eventually, you go to the kitchen to actually do what you’ve said—drink.

Who’s that girl though? Is she the one he keeps on talking about?

Releasing a breath, you walk back to his room as you try to clear your thoughts. His head moves slowly, still with eyes closed, and you think you just heard him utter your name twice.

It must be my imagination. We don’t know each other’s names until now.

You quietly walk towards the bed to check on him. His eyes flutter a bit as if trying to look around. You see him constantly shifting as if trying to find a comfortable position—or maybe he’s trying make himself feel warmer because he seems to be trying to pull the blanket closer and closer to him even if there’s no space between it and his body already.

You lean down to adjust the cloth on his forehead but to your surprise, a hand grabs your wrist and pulls you while the other hand drapes on your back, enclosing you to an embrace. You feel his body relax right after the top of your body fell on him. Being on top of the blue-haired young man, you can hear his heavy breathing becoming calmer.

You slowly attempt to get up but the moment he senses you trying to do so, he pulls you closer and his arm on your back tightens its grip. You can almost hear your heartbeat thumping loudly.

You bite your lip as you unconsciously hold your breath. When he moves again, trying to make your position a little bit more comfortable, that’s the moment you realize that you aren’t breathing. As you exhale softly, you once again try to get up, but then again, it’s no dice—he just keeps on pulling you closer.

“Please,” he breathes.

As you try to keep a tear from falling, you whisper to yourself ‘Just this once’. You snuggle closer to him, moving your head towards his shoulder and putting your feet up on the bed. His arm that was on your back is now below your head, and the other that was holding your right arm is now resting on your hip.

He heaves a sigh of relief as you fix yourself beside him. He snakes his left hand on your waist to pull you closer (once again) to him; his other hand, hold your right shoulder as a support.

The weather is very cold since the rain still hasn’t settled down but you feel like you’re sweating from the steam getting off of your body. I feel pathetic. You bite your lip as you let a tear fall while asking yourself if the current scenario you’re in is really okay or not. Of course, it’s not. Why am I still even asking? Doesn’t he already have a girl—or, I mean… are they together now? Not yet? You clench your fist without realizing it. Who was the girl who called before? Man, I feel contemptible but I can’t stop—I can’t restrain myself. I’m so awful right now, am I not? You weep quietly and you don’t know if he noticed it or not, because he pulls you closer again and caresses your back as if trying to console you, but you let yourself go with the flow anyway.

The blue-haired wakes up few minutes before four in the morning. He squeezes his eyes tightly before slowly opening them. He stares at you with a soft expression in his eyes. He tucks the strand of your hair covering your eyes behind your ear before stroking your cheek softly by his thumb. He smiles warmly as his chest throbs crazily. He presses his lips on the top of your head as he hugs you tightly again before going back to sleep.

“She’s sick,” you overhear a voice few feet from you “I think she caught it from me. She looked over me the whole night.” Your forehead creases as you continue hearing the familiar voice.

Who’s he talking to? You carefully open your eyes and see the back of the Chicken Guy facing you. He is holding his phone against his ear. You glance at the wall clock which reads 10:14. Before it sinks into you that you’re already late for work, you remember what happened last night. As if on cue, he turns to check on you. You glance at him and immediately look away. You remember how he pulled you and how you fell on top of him when you were supposed to fix the small towel on his forehead; and how you eventually fell asleep in his tight warm embrace. I slept beside him the whole night! Not to mention he was holding me in his arms!

You can’t help but widen your eyes as your chest tightens with all of the sudden flashbacks from last night. Oh right, shoot! I’m late for work! You hastily seat up and move the blanket away when your head suddenly aches. Your body also seems sore, your eyes feel quite heavy and you feel weak.

He runs toward you and carefully holds your shoulder, “Just lay down again,” he demands “you’ve got fever. Also, don’t worry about work for today. Just rest”

He apologizes for not showing up for the past nights—he was sick, if it’s not yet obvious (he says he has a very weak immune system so he gets sick so easily and he played basketball with one of his friends while the rain was pouring). It’s not like he owes you some since you didn’t really agree to meet everyday—although it seem to be a silent pact, there’s nothing to explain. Besides, what are you to him exactly? No one in particular—just a random stranger whom he offered an umbrella one rainy afternoon in exchange for free chicken, a stranger who eventually became his snack buddy, and a gaming partner.

“Are you sure you’re fine now?” Wonpil asks when you get back to work on Monday.

“No worries,” you declare as you show him an ‘OK’ sign.

“But why is something still off?” He quizzes.

You unconsciously bite your lower lip and shift your gaze away from him. It’s just—series of scenarios from few days ago flash in your mind again. Not to mention, he visited you everyday to look after you, more than what you did when he’s sick. All you did was just take him home, put him to bed and put a cold damp towel on his forehead. But he brought you porridge, made you watch animated movies to keep you from getting bored (you both had Studio Ghibli and Makoto Shinkai marathon), brought his PSPs to play with you, do everything you want him to do—although he still kept on teasing you, he sure took good care of you, making sure you wouldn’t strain yourself and you’re entertained enough.

“See?” your best friend’s voice pulls you back to present “There’s really something going on.”

That afternoon after work, his grinning face welcomes you when you step out of the company’s building. You do the usual stuff—getting a snack and stays at the joint for few hours before going to the shed.

“Shall we go home early tonight?” he asks “Although it hasn’t rained, it’s really chilly. You just recovered from your fever”

“Says the one who was sick for four nights,” you roll your eyes.

The wind blows and the cold breeze embraces you. You shiver and clench your fist. Of all things, why did I forget my jacket? Your forehead furrows when you see him spread his arms (his hands are in the pockets of his coat, so the coat is spread open as he did to his arms). You raise a brow to question.

“Aren’t you cold?” He moves his eyebrows up and down as if expressing that he’s got an awesome idea. You crease your forehead again when you realize what he meant. “C’mon. It’s not like it’s the first time I’ll enclose you in my arms”

Your heart skips a beat. You notice that he did not directly regard it as a hug. Maybe not to make me feel awkward? You mentally flick yourself. But it still insinuates the same thing!

“I told you to—“

The next words are hung in the air when he suddenly wraps an arm around you, making your body be covered by his coat. It almost seems like he’s hugging you—if he’s not yet actually doing that. Of course, he’s not.

Geez, I told you to minimize doing this kind of things.

“Who’s J?” you voice that even you yourself is surprised. Where did that come from?

You feel him squeeze your shoulder and draw you closer to him as if assuring you of something. “A childhood friend.”

The next day, he does another thing. He holds your hand and put it inside the pocket of his hoodie. It’s so sudden that you did not have the chance to pull your hand back but when you try to do so, he intertwines his fingers to yours and holds your hand tighter.

“You’ll be cold,” he utters nonchalantly.

You’re starting to tell yourself that it’s okay—what happened that night, sleeping while he’s embracing you the whole time, is fine, too; that your afternoon agenda is normal; that maybe the other girl is just a girl he’s thankful for; that maybe there’s really something going on between the two of you.

But just when you’re starting to think that way, you begin to doubt again when you hear a very familiar voice—that laugh that makes your chest tingle—having so much fun with a girl one afternoon. You’re on your way to the CEO’s office to submit some concept reports and reviews when you hear two voices laughing in harmony.

Just when you take a turn at the end of the hall way, the door of the CEO’s office opens and you see Mr. Park goes out as he calls out ‘Hyung, Jamie’ to the people standing outside the office—an arm wrapped around the head of a girl, locking her, and her hair is tousled (a very familiar scene, you think).

Your eyes shift from the CEO to the Chicken Guy and to the girl. Each one’s lips are agape—like no one has been expecting this kind of situation. You swallow a lump as your grip on the folder you’re holding tightens.

“Sir,” you mutter almost a whisper, feeling your knees getting weak, as you hand him the papers while the blue-haired straightens up and the girl fixes her hair, “here are the concept reviews,” you bat your eyelids in attempt to calm yourself “just call me again if you need me.” Without waiting for his response, you turn around and walk away.

You tense upon hearing the very familiar voice calling out your name. He knows my name! You walk more swiftly but with his long legs, he catches up to you in an instant. He grabs your arm to make you stop and you hastily pull it away from his grasp and face him.

“You knew me all along?” You choke “And… ‘Hyung’? You’re Mr. Park’s—you’re a Park, you’re the CEO’s brother.” You exhale a sharp breath as you tell yourself how unbelievable it is. But come to think of it, there are clues—how Mr. Park reacted with your concepts, how he told you not to wait, how he suddenly acted especially nice towards you, how he knew where you were on that rainy night, and the grandmother! So I was right with that assumption? That the only way I can be that girl on his story is when his grandmother and the grandmother I saved which is the CEO’s grandparent is the same person.

Pathetic.

“Let me exp—“

“Hyung,” Mr. Park calls out. Just by hearing him call his older brother makes your ears itch. You squeeze your eyes shut as the chief motions his brother to leave you for now.

Not to mention, there’s also that girl. Who’s that girl? Jamie? Isn’t she the one the blue-haired is interested in? If he kept on talking about the girl on the street, aren’t you that girl? Then who’s the one earlier? Is she the childhood friend—the  J? Or is she someone else—someone very special perhaps?

“Why are you here?” You hear Jackson’s voice behind your back an hour after.

You’re seated on the swing located in the company’s garden. You figured there won’t be people there because the employees usually go to the Rec Room, sports area, library, and café; or sometimes indulge themselves in their work.

You briskly wipe the trace of tears on your face before the CEO’s secretary goes beside you.

“I have to show you something,” he excitedly declares “I haven’t gotten the chance to show this to you the past weeks because you’re always with Younghyun and Wonpil.” He fumbles on the phone’s screen before he shows it to you.

As soon as the guitar plucking starts ‘JAE PARK Better Man’ shows on screen which makes your breathing hitch. The black screen slowly fades, revealing a young man with fringe up hair, square-framed black eyeglasses, a piercing on the left ear, running his hand on the neck of the guitar and the other tweaking the strings. Your lips quiver as you try not to break.

I’m the kind of guy

Hearing his voice is what it takes for you to burst. The guy who sang the song that Jackson made you listen few weeks ago was him all along—your speculation was right again.

Jackson panics at your sudden rupture. He instantly stops the video and puts his phone in his pocket, puts his hand on your shoulder and the other patting your back. “W-what happened? Why are you suddenly crying?” Instead of answering his questions, you respond with another batch of tears.

You can’t be thankful enough for having non-rainy days for the next days. You keep on avoiding the Chicken Guy, and even if he tried multiple times to talk with you, you just continued walking until he’d stop.

On the ninth day of playing cat and mouse though, the wind keeps on blowing powerfully. The sky looks gloomy, too. Please, don’t let it rain, don’t let it rain. You keep chanting in your head when you finish your work.

“A low pressure area trough will move through South Korea,” Wonpil informs “It’s said to bring heavy rain. Please be safe.”

You pace quickly after going out of the building. Not soon after, a hand grips on your arm.

“Let me go,” you deadpan.

As if he hears nothing, he leans down to carry you on his shoulder like a sack of rice. You keep yelling but no one is trying to help you. You continuously hit his back and kick your feet in the air but he’s as persistent—or even more. You feel a water drop on your arm and you almost cuss when you realize it’s drizzling.

The moment he steps on the shed, the rain pours. He lets you down and you immediately try to walk away but he swiftly pulls you back.

“What the heck! Can’t you see it’s pouring hard?”

“I’m not blind!” You hiss “And leave me alone! Mind your own biz”

He run a hand on his face as if trying to calm down, “Please. Let’s talk,” he breathes in, putting both hands on waist “I think I’ve given you more than enough time already to cool down. So let’s talk”

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

“There’s a lot.”

“Like what?!” You strike a sarcastic smile, “Like how you played with me since Day 1? How you acted like a jerk while I needed help? Then what? You came to me ‘offered help’ only to play with me further? Chicken, huh? What a cheat code. You made a fool out of me. And what the ef—I just let you?” You release a sharp air, “Do you know exactly what and how you made me feel this whole month?” Your eyes start to water, “You made me excited, you made me happy—delighted, you gave me thrill, you pissed the hell out of me but I kept wanting for more, I craved for the sound of your laugh, I yearned for the sight of your smile, you made me anxious, confused, one moment you’d make me feel like I was freaking special—like we’re something—then another minute, you’d make me feel otherwise. You made me friggin’ long for your presence even if we see each other six days out of seven. Heck! I kept missing you but you,” you sniff and you firmly wipe your tears using the back of your hand “You kept my feelings wandering around, making it feel like it has no certain destination—like it’ll be left meandering forever. And holy freaking sh*t! You held me in your arms for a whole night! What a combo you got there. You made me feel crazy, like you want me but you don’t. I kept asking myself what we are, what am I to you—maybe I’m just a substance to temporarily fill your void. Was I a quest to accomplish? Or an item to add in your inventory? For what? To increase your real life XP points? Or am I like a healer to keep your sanity? You made me feel all kinds of things but you just tricked me. Was it amusing?” You chortle sarcastically, “I’m sure you’re very entertained. Now if you may excuse me, I’m done being in your game,” you weakly declare as you turn and take a step

“I like you!” He proclaims making you halt. Even your heartbeat seems to pause for a second or two. “I just thought those trivial matter won’t change a thing; that what’s important is what we’ve shared, the times we’ve spent together, the bond we’ve made and the memories we’ve created—most especially, the feelings that are linking our hearts to each other’s; though unspoken, still certainly evident.” You feel him take a step closer, “I told you, I was just thankful at first but when I learned you’re working on my brother’s company, I decided to know you more—and when I did, I can’t help but be enticed by your character. You’re like a magnet that no matter how much I pull myself away, I still keep coming back—with just a smile, I fall back hard; with just a glance from you, I’m being pulled towards an endless pit, and the deeper I’m getting pulled, the deeper my feelings get; with just a single word—“

You force your eyes shut as you clench your fist. You decide not to hear any more of it so you take another step in attempt to go home despite the rain but he catches you again, holding your arm and making you turn to him. He abruptly leans closer which causes your eyes to widen.

You feel like your chest fall on the floor. You can feel his breath brushing your lips when his mouth is just an inch away from yours. You take a gulp. He sighs in surrender, not leaning further, before straightening up and pulling you in a hug.

“Can we take this kind of slow? ‘Cause I don't want to mess up,” he sings before he chuckles. You start to relax upon hearing that familiar song. You feel the breath of relief he releases before he kisses the top of your head and tightens his hold of you. “Let’s take this slow”

With 164cm as your height and him being almost 6 feet tall, you can perfectly feel and almost hear his heartbeat. It’s pounding crazily to the rhythm of yours. Your clenching fists start to loosen as you nod between his chest and arms. You can feel him smile even without looking at him.

“It’s Jae by the way,” he declares “Jaehyung Park”

His sudden introduction to himself makes you chuckle. After all this time, he only introduced himself just now. You shake your head a bit before draping your arms around his waist to reciprocate his embrace. The cold and rainy weather makes it more ideal.

I want to stay like this a little bit longer. You sigh. Don’t stop the rain, please. Please.

THOUGHTS THOUGHTS THOUGHTS???

That's the end--but MIGHT add another? Epilogue focusing on Jae's side?? AND AND, more info of Jae on the spin-off of this fic--"Let it Rain" (Okay not yet sure about that, but the plot keeps on invading my thoughts whenever I write a chapter of this story. You might have a clue about it already)

Also on: * AsianFanfics * archiveofourown * twitter

Fics masterlist: Daelisix’s Fics

[spectranslates-blog]

In The Dark: Till the Dawn [Part 2]

where kanata goes rip, chiaki getting scolded by keito and chiaki freaking out in the marine life club

[Location: School Staircase] Chiaki: Hah..... Can’t find Kanata anywhere.....! Not in the classrooms, The fountain is empty too! Time is precious! If we don’t find Kanata......! Keito: Uwah?! Morisawa, stand still. Don’t think you can easily run away. I told you so many times, no running in the corridors. You are already RYUSEITAI’s leader, not every first year thinks of you as a reliable senpai. Since its like this, you should learn to respect the rules more and correctly teach them. You should become their guide. If i dare hear you bring up a first year with evil ways i would not spare you. ...Hmph, since you are not so much of a evil person. But bad things done with a good intention will still happen, especially that muddleheaded guy. So that’s why we have to stand firm with our rules Chiaki: Nn, you said it! Guess you do have a cool side Hasumi! Earlier i nearly bumped into you, I’m very sorry! But i have something i need to do with Kanata so i have no time for your lectures! Heroes also have no choice! or you can say [No choice] is also a heroes’ life! Wahahahaha☆ Keito: I don’t think there is no choice, besides,your voice is too loud. Do you wanna scare those who are not home yet and stare at us? Chiaki: Being watched by people, i don’t think that is a bad idea at all......☆ Keito: ...... Really, you are hopeless. You wanna find Shinkai? Try looking in the Marine Life club room. If its that guy, it would not be a surprise if he attends he club normally. Chiaki: Oho, The Marine Life Club! Thank you Hasumi! If you didn’t, i would have not remembered. As a leader, this is a huge lesson for me and i will properly reflect on it! I must end our conversation here, i will not forget today’s incident! Afterwards if you want me to apologize, pay or write a report, i will do as you say! Bye! Kanata! Kanata you there! I am coming to find you Kanata! [Scene change: Marine life club room] Chiaki: (Not here......uu, its dark.) (The lights are a faint blue colour, feels like you have fallen into the sea. Its uncomfortable, am i thinking too much.....?) (Those are the Marine Life club’s fish......No No No, are they really fish? No matter how much i look at it only faintly resembles a fish. It really is intriguing, they are nonexistent on Earth and came from a strange world.) (The skin feels like it’s from a broken cloth, eyes are squeezed on its head and  have an angry look on them, it also has teeth sharp like a shovel. ......even though this is a strange biological being, the features that it has is unimaginable!) (It feels like those morning broadcasts with video clips, Earth’s strangest beings......) (! Wait a minute, don’t tell me these is some unexplained force that created this thing shaped like a fish and wants to harm humanity’s peace?) (Can’t turn a blind eye to these kinds of things, if it is true, then Kanata is in danger. What?! It suddenly looked in my direction, and bared its teeth at me?!) (This guy, can read my thoughts. Yes, you are an evil creature! But i will not back down! From the evil forces these hands have protected this school, its students and the kouhai’s, this is a burden that I as a leader should carry.) (Kanata? .....Kanata?!) (Oh no, Kanata must have fallen into their hands. Calm down, Morisawa Chiaki, your comrade is experiencing a great danger. You should be able to defeat them all but that can’t guarantee Kanata’s safety.) (Kanata’s complexion looks weak, i need to find support quick. It’s not serious yet, please wait Kanata, i will be right back....!) Kanata: ......Chiaki? I think i heard Chiaki’s {voice}....? But he {suddenly} ran away, is Chiaki really {strange}? I feel a little {regret}...i didn’t {welcome} Chiaki. I wanna have my {sea friends}.... {Bare eel}, {Silver shark} and {flat cuttlefish}, everyone {together} with Chiaki {greet each other} {Because} Chiaki is also {our} important {buddy}..... ♪ [END]

[randomrichards]

MOVIES (THAT MIGHT BE) WORTH CHECKING OUT IN JANUARY 2020:

January 3:

THE GRUDGE

We begin with an attempted reboot of the hit horror flick based on another hit horror film.

Based on the Japanese import Ju-On, the film centres around a curse born from a fit of anger that attacks anyone who dares to enter a house. The pale boy ghost and the contorted woman became instantly iconic, especially when they made that crackling sound. Of course, people in North America are more likely to recognize its remake The Grudge. While not on the same level as its predecessor, the American was still a hit. It has become so iconic that there was a crossover movie where it faces off against the ghost from Ringu.

This time, the target is Peter Spencer (John Cho), a real estate agent who intended to sell a house not realizing it contained the title curse. Believing a homicide occurred, Spencer calls on Detective Muldoon (Andrea Risborough) to investigate. But they fail to realize the curse inside dooms all who enter it with a violent and it’s coming for them.

Here’s another of a long list of Horror remakes Hollywood has been peddling in the last decade. For every good one (It, Child’s Play), there are three times as many failures (the recent ones being Pet Semetary and Black Christmas). I’m not having much hope for this one. It can still be good, but it needs a director with as creative a vision as Takashi Shimizu’s.

THREE CHRISTS

Based on The Three Christs of Ypsilanti by Milton Rokeach, Three Christs tells the real-life experiment involving three men who claim to be a certain savior.

In Michigan’s Ypsilanti State Hospital in 1959, Dr. Alan Stone (Richard Gere) conducts a revolutionary experiment where he brings together three men (Peter Dinklage, Walton Goggins and Bradley Whitford) who each claim to be Jesus Christ. He hopes to use this experiment to force them to confront their delusions. It would certainly be preferable to electroshock therapy.

A real-life story like this comes with a lot of potential. But with the director of Fried Green Tomatoes helming this project, it looks like this will be a typical biopic. This is a shame with 4 great actors working together.

January 10:

1917

Sam Mendes, the director of American Beauty and Skyfall, takes us back to World War One and hopes to enter the Oscar Race with his latest war movie 1917.

Generla Erinmore (Colin Firth) tasks young British soldiers Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and Schofield (George MacKay) with a difficult mission. 1,600 of their fellow soldiers are heading into a fatal trap and the two soldiers must deliver a message calling off the raid before tomorrow morning. And one of them is Blake’s brother. Racing against time, Blake and Schofield are forced to rush through enemy territory to deliver the message on time. Benedict Cumberbatch also

The film is already garnering high praise for its gripping suspense and graceful camera. It’s already garnering nominations at the Golden Globe Awards for Best Dramatic Motion Picture, Best Director and Best Original Score. It’s especially getting praise is how it makes the film look like one long camera shot following the two leads through their mission.

CHHAPAAK

All the way from India is a film inspired by real life acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal.

This film looks at Malti (Deepika Padukone), a woman horribly scared after an acid attack. The film follows her through her physical treatment and eventual trial. It looks like the core of the film will be her journey of emotional healing, regaining her self-worth with the help of loved ones.

Unless you know films that show Bollywood movies, I suspect this film will be hard to find for many people. Kind of a shame

JUST MERCY

Writer/Director Destin Daniel Cretton (Short Term 12) brings ups the real-life story of a lawyer who battled systemic racism to free an innocent man.

Harvard graduate Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) heads to 1980s Alabama to assist advocate Eva Ansley (Brie Larson) to defend those wrongfully convicted. His first and most important case is Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), who was sentenced to death for the notorious murder of an 18-year-old girl despite evidence proving his innocence including a group of people who could vouch for him.

As Stevenson works prove McMillian’s innocence and those of other death row inmates, he faces up against an uncaring political maneuvers and systemic racism.  But neither he nor Ansley will let this stop them.

Audiences love and underdog story and this one is sure to satisfy, especially with Jordan, Larson and Foxx starring in the film. It’s also sure to offer some catharsis for those frustrated with current systemic racism. But this could by a typical biopic forgotten by the end of the year.

January 17:

BAD BOYS FOR LIFE

I’m going to be brief because I don’t think we’re going to get anything special from this movie. This film is pretty much a checkmark of every plot element you see in every Buddy Cop movie. Cop considering retiring. Check. One last job? Check. Training arrogant young upstarts? Check. A forever disapproving superior throwing a tantrum of our heroes. Check. It doesn’t matter how flashy the trailer is, a cliché is a cliché.

But then again, the original two film were also piling of buddy cop clichés. The only thing they had going for them was Will Smith’s charisma and Martin Lawrence’s over the top delivery. Only the second movie was memorable thanks to some well shot, over the top action scenes. But I highly doubt this one will be memorable when Michael Bay has backed out of the film.

We don’t really need another Bad Boys movie, especially when we have the Fast and Furious series and the John Wick movies.

DOLITTLE

The famous physician who can talk to animals returns in a new reboot. This time the Doc is played by Robert Downey Jr, fresh from retiring his iconic role of Tony Stark after 10 years. It also looks like it will be going back to its roots as a fantasy story set in the Victorian era. There’s not much plot summary to go on, but judging by the trailer, it will have him setting sail on an adventure alongside his animal friends. At the core of the film seems to be his friendship with two kills. Also, among the cast are Jessie Buckley as Queen Victoria and Antonio Banderas as a pirate.

There is an all-star cast voicing the animals, including Tom Holland, Emma Thompson, Ralph Fiennes and Rami Malek just to name a few.

This film seems to rest its shoulders on Robert Downey Jr, hoping his charm will do for Dr. Doolittle what he did for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But the film lives and dies on writer/director Stephen Gaghan, who is an unusual choice for a family fantasy considering that his resume consists of gritty war movies like Syriana, Traffic and Rules Engagement and crime drama tv shows like The Practice and NYPD Blue. He’s even written for the video game Call of Duty: Ghosts. It’s strange that someone with this resume would be chosen to reboot this franchise. It’s especially risky considering the original attempts to adapt Hugh Lofting books for the big screen. But if Martin Scorsese can make Hugo, there’s a chance Gaghan can make Dolittle work

The first one was a musical that tried to bank on the Sound of Music’s success but was an epic flop. It didn’t help that lead actor Rex Harrison was a notoriously difficult drunk who couldn’t sing. In fact, his behind the scenes shenanigans were way more interesting than the actual movie as proved by Mark Harris’ non-fiction book Pictures at a Revolution. Decades later, 20th Century Fox reboots the franchise was a hit thanks to Eddie Murphy as the title character and a variety of comedic voice actors (especially Albert Brooks, Chris Rock and Norm McDonald) voices the animals. No matter the quality, there’s a weight of nostalgia for both movies with many people growing up with these movies. This film will face the challenge of pushing past the nostalgia.

WEATHERING WITH YOU

From beloved anime writer/director Makoto Shinkai comes another romantic fantasy about two teens.

Teenage boy Hodoka (voiced by Kotaro Daigo) runs away from his isolated island home for Tokyo. Homeless and desperate, Hodoka takes a job as an assistant for journalist Keisuke Suga (Sun Oguri). His job involves finding “The Sunshine Girl”, a local teen girl who can control the weather. He soon finds her in Hina Amano (Nana Mori), a cheerful teen girl living with her brother. He is in awe with her power when she freezes the rain and love soon sparks. But messing with nature comes with a price and soon Hodoka and Hina are fighting to stay together.

Of all the movies on this list, this is the one I’m most excited to see. Once I saw his recent his Your Name, I was in pure awe. Never has a sunset looked more beautiful than in Shinkai’s anime. Every environment in Shinkai’s films enchant you with their vibrant colours and stunning details. Just as beautiful are his fantastical stories of young people growing up. At the core of each story is teens in love kept apart by unusual circumstances, whether it’s distance or time or even being in each other ‘s bodies.

This film’s already a major hit in Japan, which is very encouraging for anime fans.

January 24:

COLOR OUT OF SPACE

And now for something a little weird.

Nathan Gardner (Nicholas Cage) has moved his family to a remote farm to escape city life and live a life of peace and quiet. Then God was like “LOL No!” and sends an asteroid down their way. Then weird shit starts happening, most with colours mutating everything.

With a crew like this, you know you’re getting into some crazy shit. First, the film is based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft, the inventor of cosmic horror and the man who gave us Cthulhu. Then there’s co-writer/director Richard Stanley, known for his odd genre flicks including Hardware and Dust Devil.[i] And then there’s Nicholas Cage, whose as well known for his scenery chewing Kabuki acting as his acclaimed Oscar-nominated roles. Last year, writer/director Panos Cosmatos found perfect use of Cage’s Kabuki acting in the ultra-stylized revenge masterpiece Mandy. Let’s be honest, the only types of films Cage’s Kabuki acting can work are either stylized, unintentionally hilarious or tongue-in-cheek. With the producers of Mandy working on this film, there’s high hopes it will be deliver on the stylized goods.

THE GENTLEMEN

After remaking Aladdin (and making lots of money in the process), director/writer Guy Ritchie returns to his roots with his latest English crime comedy The Gentlemen.

From what I can gather, the films about an American Pot Dealer (Matthew McConaughey) who plans to sell off his Empire in London when a young gang led by Dry Eye (Henry Golding) starts a drug war. There’s not much plot to go on, but with a Guy Ritchie movie, the plot will be way too complicated to explain. What is guaranteed is that there will be lots of oddball gangsters with weird names, hilarious and gruesome deaths and shit blowing up.

The film features an all-star cast including Charlie Hunnam, Colin Farrell and Hugh Grant continuing his streak of getting his groove back by playing against type.

So far, Ritchie hasn’t made a film that’s reached the same level as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels or Snatch. For the most part, he has been unsuccessful stepping out of his comfort zone. Here’s hoping The Gentleman will bring his back on his A Game.

THE TURNING

This day concludes with a modern take of Henry James’ classic novella The Turn of the Screw.

Kate (Mackenzie Davis) is hired as a governess for care for her boss’s orphaned niece Flora (Brooklyn Prince) and nephew Miles (Finn Wolfhard). But as she cares for them in a secluded mansion, she comes to realize they are being haunted by hostile spirits. Can she protect them for what lies in the mansion?

The film has been remade multiple times, with the most acclaimed one being the 1961 classic The Innocents. This once changes it up by setting it in current times, with a notable scene of Miles creeping Kate out with drums. The film also gives some Conjuring vibes, especially with its cinematography. But it should be noted that similarity doesn’t equal copying and there could be some unique elements in this film.

There certainly is a good chance with director Floria Sigismondi will offer a unique vision. She has already directed episodes of stylized shows like The Handmaid’s Tale, Daredevil and American Gods, but she’s already well known for her stylized directing from her work in music videos. Since Marilyn Manson’s “The Beautiful People”, dilating, jittery camera work has become her trademark, working alongside artists including David Bowie, Bjork, Christina Aguilera, Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake (just to name a few).

January 27:

BEANPOLE

Here’s the film Russia hopes will be nominated for Best Foreign Language film.

Set in Leningrad in 1945, Beanpole centres on Masha (Vasilisa Perelygina) and Iya (Viktoria Miroshnichenko) struggling to trying to rebuild their lives in the ruins of a city demolished by war. At the core of film is the infertile Masha hiring Iya as a surrogate mother.

There’s not much go on, but with the film winning Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival, there’s good prospects for this film. It seems to be a character drama like Roma. Here’s hoping this film’s as quietly engaging as Alfonso Cuaron’s masterpiece.

January 31

THE TRAITOR

We conclude this with an Italian biopic about Tommaso Buscetta, the first Mafia Informant in 1980’s Sicily.

Tommaso (Pierfrancesco Favino) was a member of the Cosa Nostra. Then in 1983, half of his family is killed in a gang war. Now he intends to make them pay using the arm of the law. He knows the mob will do whatever it takes to stop him, but he’s more determined than ever. But as the trials continue, Tommaso will show the rabbit hole goes deeper than the law expected with political figures in the mafia’s pockets.

This is another film that may fall by the wayside, which is a shame because this film seems like a great biopic. It could certainly give overdue attention for director/co-writer Marco Bellocchio, who has remained a criminally overlooked director despite making acclaimed movies since the 1960s.

[i] And being fired from the Brando version of Island of Dr. Monroe.

[higuchimon]

[fanfic] Captured & Confused: chapter 21

If one more thing happened that confused or bewildered Yuujin, along with not being able to do anything about it, he...didn’t know what he would do other than be very annoyed about it all. One thing he’d learned fast here was that when the Ultimate Four wanted to keep someone, then at least if that person was him, then he was kept.

Exactly why he got shifted to a different cell he hadn’t yet figured out. It was the latest confusing thing in a long list of confusing things, most of which started with him not having been killed in the first place.

Don’t feel like complaining about it, but I’d still like to know why. He couldn’t shake the worry that Leviathan concealed some twisted plan behind all of this, one that would hurt Haru and the others, using him to do it.

Something that might well have been a faint laugh echoed inside of his head. Yuujin jerked around, trying to figure out where it came from, his heart in his throat. A quick look down at Offmon told him his Buddy hadn’t heard a thing. Or at least wasn’t reacting to it if he had.

Did I really hear that? He didn’t think he’d been here so long that he was starting to hallucinate.

No. You haven’t.

Yuujin’s heart skipped a beat. The voice wasn’t one he recognized, but it also wasn’t one he could call utterly unfamililar, either. He swallowed. That wasn’t right, either. It couldn’t be the first voice that came to mind.

I speak only to you at this moment. Offmon cannot hear me. Nor would anyone else if they were here.

Yuujin twitched. Before he could speak, the voice interrupted.

You need not speak aloud. Shape what you would say and I will know. I know all that lies within your mind already.

That didn’t make Yuujin feel any better. He raised his head and squared his shoulders the best that he could while being chained to the wall.

What do you want with us, Leviathan?

I want you and Offmon reunited with your friends.

Yuujin shook his head a bit. No, you don’t. If you did, you’d let us go. He would have thought the most intelligent AI in the world could come up with a better lie than that. Or could AIs lie at all? He’d never even thought about it. Maybe it was time to find out?

Leviathan’s presence seemed amused. At least Yuujin got the impression that it was amused.

I calculated for your disbelief. You will learn the truth in the proper order of matters. But you wish to know why I will not have you disposed of.

Yuujin confined himself to a brief nod.

Because doing so would serve me no purpose. I have a greater task than death slated for you.

The very thought of doing anything Leviathan wanted sent horror crawling up Yuujin’s spine. It grew even more when he could feel Leviathan being pleased at that. It made no sense at all, much like everything else, and he wanted to demand more. More answers, more information, more everything.

Leviathan apparently had other plans.

It will be better for you if you rest now. Shinkai Haru will be here shortly and I’m certain that you wish to see him again.

Hearing Leviathan speak – if that was even the right word – Haru’s name tripled the terror and quadrupled Yuujin’s rage. How dare Leviathan even know it, let alone say it!

Why should I not know my enemy? Another flicker of amusement. But rest is required of you now.

Yuujin struggled to keep his eyes open. But regardless of his best efforts, they closed, and he could feel his awareness of what was going on fading away as sleep stole over him.

He would have to tell Haru about this, he told himself in the last moments of awareness. Haru would need to know that Leviathan was aware of him, of all of them, and that Leviathan had some sort of plan in mind.

As he faded, he could feel Leviathan watching and his last conscious thought was to wonder anew why Leviathan sounded like his father.

To Be Continued

Notes: Gee, Yuujin, I wonder~