#amai pai

[rennebright]

Pekomama by Amai pai [Twitter/X] ※Illustration shared with permission from the artist. If you like this artwork please support the artist by visiting the source.

[imsosocold]

Amai Mask has the same character archetype as Nagito Komaeda and serves a similar narrative function in his respective story and in this essay I will-

[jewishicequeen]

Hi. Can you share a cool fact about Israel? How's the fan culture over there? You guys got conventions? 👀

BOY DO WE

There are 4 big conventions in Israel, run by two organisations- the Israeli Society For Science Fiction and Fantasy(known shortly as "Ha'Aguda), and AMAI, the Israeli Manga and Anime Organization.

The Aguda's conventions are the biggest and most well-known. There's Icon during Sukkot and Olamot("worlds") during Passover, and both are always in Tel Aviv. Those are the comic-con of Israel- they have everything geeky and fanish, from every type of media. They last 2-3 days, and are free to enter but you have to pay to go into specific events. Those are my favorites!

AMAI's conventions are centered around Japanese media and culture. There are also two- Harucon at Purim(the closest con), and Animatsuri at the summer. Those cons costs money to enter, but once you're inside you can go anywhere as long as there are free seats. Those cons are in Jerusalem, and are very big. They also sometimes include a run of an Animusical(anime-inspired original musical production done by members of the community)

Other then those 4, we have lots of smaller cons done by different organizations and for different specific topics- there's Meorot which is a Harry Potter and LOTR con set during Hannukah, the Aguda also has Mitopia in the summer, that's centered specifically around books, and there's Draconicon for DND and RPG players! And a lot more! Last year I also had the chance to go to the first Sha'atnez, a con surrounding specifically Jewish Fantasy and Fantastic Judaism. It was fantastic and I REALLY hope it'll be an annual thing.

Interesting thing about fan culture here- the main two groups involved in it are queers, and religious orthodox jews. Both are in the fannish scene in much larger percantages then they make of the general population! I suspect the religious thing is because Shabbat-keepers have a lot of time when all they can do is read, and queers are already very dominant in such communities, but it's still very cool I think:)

Anyway fun fact, I've been in the artist alley for... 6-7 cons up untill now? My favorite to sell in was Noar Kore which sadly does not exist anymore but I REALLY like doing those booths.

[randomstuffprime2]

Can you do dehya from Genshin Impact

.

haneramu

emmanuel viola

amai-pai

rikuguma

eliskalti

reikolape

prywinko

.

.

95---

shio05 (05 sio)

goomrrat (グムラット)

yamabuki7979

[mxnsterbabe]

Male Werewolf/Female Reader

NSFW

Wordcount: 3,302

Commissions | Ko-fi | Masterlist

Tags & Warnings: mentions of chronic pain

You've loved Logan since you were a kid, and never thought he felt the same. Until he proves you wrong.

You sat in the window seat of Velvet Latte, surrounded by the bright stream of your friends' laughter. Your gaze, almost involuntarily, drifted towards Levi. He was laughing heartily at something Amais, the quiet one in your group, had just said. His golden curls caught the sunlight streaming through the window, creating a halo around him, and for a moment, he seemed almost otherworldly.

It’s almost impossible to tell what he really is, except for the slightly sharpened canines and the way his eyes almost glow under the natural light.

Levi, with his boyish charm and a smile that could outshine the sun, had been your constant through the years. He had been the keeper of your secrets, your partner in crime since childhood. There was one secret you had held back from him: the way your heart skipped a beat every time he smiled your way.

Lost in your thoughts, you were oblivious to May's observant eyes on you. It was only when she leaned in, a mischievous glint in her eye, and teased, "Looks like someone's more interested in the view than the conversation," that reality crashed back in. You felt the heat rise in your cheeks, turning them a deep shade of crimson. Words stumbled over each other in your attempt to respond, but nothing coherent came out.

Levi, who had been reaching to grab something from the backpack tossed over his wheelchair handles, now turned to look at you with furrowed brows.

May leaned in and said, "Honestly, when are you two going to get together already? Watching you pine over each other is painful!"

The table erupted into laughter, but you couldn't help but notice Levi's reaction. His smile faltered for a moment, and a blush crept up his neck, coloring his freckled cheeks, and he shifted awkwardly in his wheelchair.

Your heart sank a little. The familiar weight of unrequited love settled in your chest.

Needing a moment to compose yourself, you excused yourself to the restroom. No sooner had you left the table than Fatima, quiet until now, followed you. In the sanctuary of the bathroom, away from the curious eyes of your friends, you leaned against the cool tiled wall, trying to hide your disappointment.

Fatima stood beside you, her expression soft and understanding. "Hey," she began gently, "you know he likes you, right? Levi's always been terrible at hiding his feelings, especially where you're concerned."

You shook your head, unconvinced. "Did you see his reaction? It's like he was embarrassed by the idea of us being together."

Fatima sighed, her hand reaching out to squeeze yours. "You're reading it all wrong. We've all seen the way he looks at you when you're not watching. It's the same way you look at him."

"What if I'm just seeing what I want to see?" you murmured, the uncertainty clear in your voice.

"We've all known each other since we were kids. It's always been you and Levi, Levi and you. Even Amais, who’s probably the least observant man in the world, can see it. You both care about each other so much, it's almost tangible."

Her words offered a glimmer of hope, but the fear of ruining what you already had with Levi loomed large in your mind. "What if I'm risking too much?" you asked.

"Sometimes," Fatima said softly, "it's the risks we don't take that we regret the most. Levi's your best friend. Even if things don't turn out the way you hope, you'll figure it out. You always do."

You let out a deep breath, her words sinking in. There was truth in what she said, a truth you had been too afraid to confront. Even so, the thought of not knowing, of always wondering what if, seemed even more daunting.

As you and Fatima headed back to the table, you resolved to pay more attention, to look for those small signs of affection from Levi. Maybe, just maybe, your feelings weren't as one-sided as you'd feared. Or maybe they were. Honestly, you couldn’t tell; despite what Fatima had said.

“Come on,” Fatima said kindly, “let’s go back to the table.”

May looked at you apologetically as you returned a minute later, hands cupped around your coffee cup. "Hey, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable earlier," she said with a sincere tone. "Just couldn't resist a little teasing."

You offered her a small smile. "It's okay, May. I know you didn't mean anything by it."

Amais added, "Yeah, we all know May's sense of humor by now. Comes with no filter and good intentions."

Laughter rippled through the group, easing the earlier tension. You sipped your coffee, the rich aroma calming your frayed nerves. Soon enough though, Fatima downed the last of her drink and announced, “Sorry folks, but I have to go. If I miss another class, my lecturer might actually kill me.”

Fatima and May headed off to college, chatting about an upcoming project, awkwardness already forgotten.

Amais took this chance to say goodbye too. “Gotta go too,” he said, “I promised my girlfriend I’d stop by before I go home.”

Soon, it was just Levi and you, left in the quiet aftermath of the bustling café. You stood there, awkwardly shuffling your feet, about to apologize for the awkwardness earlier.

Before you could say anything, Levi interrupted, his voice tinged with a seriousness you rarely heard from him. "May might be onto something, you know," he said, his gaze fixed on you. "There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about for a while."

Your heart skipped a beat, and you found yourself holding your breath, waiting for his next words.

"I've been trying to hide it, but I can't anymore," Levi continued, his voice steady but his eyes betraying a hint of vulnerability. "I care about you, you know. More than just as a friend. I have for a long time now."

The world seemed to pause around you, his confession hanging in the air. You searched his eyes, looking for any sign of hesitation, but all you saw was the raw honesty of his feelings.

"Levi, I..." you started, but words failed you. How could you express years of hidden affection, of dreams and hopes cautiously guarded in your heart?

He leaned closer across the table, his presence both familiar and exhilarating. "I understand if you don't feel the same way," he said softly. "I don't want to ruin what we have, but I had to tell you because not knowing is worse than any rejection."

His confession echoed your own fears. You reached out, taking his hand in yours. "Levi, I've felt the same way for so long, but I was too scared to say anything. I was afraid of losing you, of changing everything."

"Between us," Levi's voice lowered, carrying a seriousness that anchored the moment. "You need to know, I'm not easy to be with. You know I’m a werewolf but… can you handle the reality of it?"

His words hung in the air, heavy. You glanced around the café, acutely aware of the people nearby, the risk of eavesdroppers.

"Levi, this isn't the place to discuss it," you said, your voice low. "For what it's worth, I've never cared about that. I've always accepted you for who you are, even if you keep that side hidden."

He hesitated, then continued, "It's more than just being a werewolf, Clara. There's the chronic pain, the nightmares-"

You cut him off, not with words, but with a kiss. It was a bold move, one that surprised both of you, but in that moment, it felt like the only right response. Your lips met his, conveying everything words couldn't - acceptance, courage, and the depth of your feelings for him.

The kiss was brief but spoke volumes. As you pulled away, you saw a mix of astonishment and relief in Levi's eyes.

"I've seen you at your best and your worst, Levi. I've been by your side through everything since we were kids. Do you really think I'm going to run away now because of challenges I already know about?" you asked, your voice firm yet gentle.

Levi looked at you, and there was a new kind of awe in his gaze. "I guess I've underestimated you, haven't I?" he said, a soft chuckle escaping him.

"Just a bit," you replied, smiling.

You both stood there for a moment, in the midst of the café's gentle hum, understanding the magnitude of what had just unfolded. You had crossed a threshold, stepping into a new chapter of your relationship, one that had been waiting to be written for years.

"Let's go somewhere we can talk," Levi suggested, his hand reaching for yours.

You nodded in agreement, squeezing his hand. The world outside felt different now, like you were seeing it through a new lens. There was excitement, a hint of apprehension, but above all, there was a sense of rightness, of pieces falling into place.

Leaving the café, you both ambled to the parking lot, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows on the ground. There, Levi's car awaited; you assisted him in storing his wheelchair in the back of the car. Despite needing it for longer distances, he didn’t always need it.

The drive to your house was filled with a comfortable silence, the kind only shared by those who know each other inside out. As Levi parked the car and you both entered your home, a sense of privacy and freedom enveloped you. Finally, you were in a space where you could speak freely, without the prying eyes and ears of the world outside.

Inside, you turned to Levi, your heart racing with a mix of nervousness and excitement. "Levi, before you say whatever you want to say, there’s something I need you to know," you began, your voice barely above a whisper.

He looked at you, a gentle encouragement in his eyes; and maybe a touch of wariness too.

Taking a deep breath, you let the words flow, words that had been pent up inside you for far too long. "I love you, Levi. I've loved you for more years than I can remember. It's always been you, in every daydream, in every quiet moment when my mind drifts."

Levi's expression softened, a tender look crossing his face as he listened.

"So what if you’re a werewolf?," you continued, "it doesn't scare me. I've known for a long time, and it's never changed how I feel about you. I see you, Levi, not the werewolf or the chronic pain or the anything else. I see the man who's been my best friend, my rock. I see the person I love."

You paused, searching his face for a reaction. Levi reached out, gently cupping your face in his hands, his eyes shining silver.

"You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to hear those words," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I've been so afraid that my being a werewolf would drive you away, that it would be too much for you to handle."

You shook your head emphatically. "Nothing about you could ever drive me away, Levi. You’re stuck with me.”

He smiled, before gently pressing a kiss to your forehead. “I can’t think of anything better.”

You leaned in, closing the small gap between you, and your lips met in a kiss that felt like the culmination of years of unspoken feelings. The kiss was gentle at first, an exploration, his lips soft and pliant against your own. Levi's lips moved against yours with a tenderness that made your heart flutter.

As the kiss deepened, the intensity grew. Levi, letting out a faint growl, gently pushed you against the wall, his hands framing your face. You could feel his heartbeat, fast and strong, echoing your own racing pulse.

Except, Levi's movements were slightly unsteady on his feet, knees trying not to buckle. You noticed the slight wobble, the brief flicker of concentration on his face as he tried to maintain balance.

"Levi, let's sit down," you suggested softly, breaking the kiss for a moment. You didn't want the moment to end, but you cared more about his comfort and safety.

He nodded, an apology in his eyes, and you led him to the sofa. As you both sat down, you offered a smirk and dove in for another kiss. You straddled him, feeling the warmth of his body beneath you. Levi looked up at you, his dark grey eyes filled with an intensity that took your breath away.

You resumed the kiss, this time with the comfort of the sofa supporting you both. The kiss was different now, a desperation in your movements that hadn’t been there before. You nibbled at his lower lip, smiling when you felt him gasp.

You could feel Levi's hands exploring your back, gentle yet confident. His touch sent shivers down your spine, igniting a fire within you that you hadn't fully realised was there. You were acutely aware of every point of contact, of the heat radiating from his body, of his heartbeat syncing with yours.

In this moment, straddling him on the sofa, you felt a surge of desire course through you. You ground against him, delighted when you felt something prod against your inner thigh.

You pulled back to see Levi flush. “Sorry.”

Your grin was wicked. “Don’t be. Want to do something about it?”

“You mean..?”

God, his shyness was so sweet! “Yes, I mean it,” you murmured, and ducked back down to capture Levi’s mouth in your own. The warmth radiating from him made you squirm, and his cock jumped to attention at the contact.

Levi's nervousness was palpable as he raised a shaking hand to your chest. You wanted to show him how much he meant to you, to reassure him of your desire. Taking the lead, you began to unbutton your shirt slowly, your eyes locked with his, a smile playing at your lips as he drank you up.

As each button came undone, revealing more of your skin, Levi's eyes followed your movements, a mix of awe and uncertainty in his gaze. His breath hitched slightly, the tension in the air almost tangible. You felt his cock twitch against your thighs.

With your shirt now open, you reached for his. He tensed as your fingers worked on his buttons, his self-consciousness evident. You could feel his apprehension, but you were determined to show him how much you loved every part of him.

As his shirt fell open, your eyes took in the sight of his lean chest. The muscles were well-defined, his skin silky smooth and dusted with golden hair. Your gaze was drawn to an old tattoo on his shoulder, slightly faded but still distinct; an old pinup from his younger days.

"You're beautiful," you whispered, your voice filled with sincerity.

Levi looked at you, a mix of surprise and something deeper in his eyes. He hesitantly brought his hands to your waist, his touch light as if he was still unsure. You took his hands in yours, guiding them along your back, encouraging him to explore.

His touch grew more confident, spurred by your guidance and the trust in your eyes. You leaned into his touch, your skin tingling at the contact. It was then that you realised how much you wanted him. Needed him.

You leaned in for another kiss, this one charged with a new intensity. Levi responded with a passion that matched your own, his earlier hesitation melting away under the heat of your embrace.

“I want more,” you mumbled against his neck, as you slipped down to pepper kisses along his bare skin. “Can we..?”

“Fuck yes.”

It was all the invitation you needed. Reaching between your hot thighs, you unbuttoned his jeans. He sprang free, lying heavily in your palms; he was bigger than you expected, and it sent a thrill through you.

Levi’s cheeks flushed. “Sorry, I’m having a hard time controlling myself.”

You stroked him, gently, but it was enough to have him growling as you continued to nip as his neck. “Good,” you replied, “I like that.”

He squirmed beneath you as you touched him, your fingers gentle - and then more insistent. He was warm and hard against your palm, and you found yourself grinding into him, desperate for friction.

“Wait, sl-slow down,” Levi gasped, his cheeks stained a beautiful pink. “I won’t last if you keep that up.”

His hands grasped your hair, and you felt the tug of nails scraping against your skull. Long, sharp nails that sent a delicious sting through your scalp.

You moaned, back arching as Levi scraped his nails - claws - down the base of your neck, all the way down your back. You caught a glimpse of glowing eyes and narrowed pupils when you arched back and oh, he was stunning.

Deft hands continued to pump with renewed fervour, your whole body alight with hot, needy desire. You watched as Levi’s eyes turned from warm grey to shocking, bright silver before his head tilted back and he let out a delicious growl.

You knew he wasn’t going to last long; but when he came in your palm and left a hot, sticky trail of come, you still felt yourself flush. The sight of him so blissed out, hair spread across the pillow and glowing eyes looking nervously up at you, was enough to make your mind reel.

His hand gripped the back of your neck as he came, claws digging into the sensitive flesh. You felt yourself reach your peak from that alone, head thrown back as you stuttered out Levi’s name. The fire inside of you was overwhelming as you squeezed your eyes closed.

Afterwards, breathless and flushed, you sank into the sofa beside Levi. When you glanced over, Levi’s eyes had returned to their usual dark, inviting grey.

He flushed, head tilted away as he tried to shove himself back into his jeans. His hands were shaking, and so with a chuckle, you reached out to put a hand over his.

Levi’s expression shifted to one of slight embarrassment. He pulled back slightly, his eyes avoiding yours. “I’m sorry, I got carried away,” he muttered, a hint of regret lacing his voice. “Sometimes I… it’s difficult to keep human form. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

You looked at him, seeing the uncertainty in his eyes, and felt a surge of affection. You reached out, gently turning his face towards yours. “Levi, there's nothing to be sorry about,” you said softly. “I liked it.”

“You did?”

To reassure him, you leaned in for a kiss, this time a gentle, tender one. As your lips met, you felt him relax, the tension easing from his body.

After the kiss, you snuggled up to his side, resting your head on his shoulder. His arm instinctively wrapped around you, pulling you closer. In that embrace, you felt a sense of peace and contentment. The warmth of his body, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and the quiet breathing all combined to create a cocoon of security.

As you nestled closer to Levi, you could feel his body relax further, the earlier embarrassment fading away. His hand stroked your hair gently, a soothing rhythm. You looked up at him, and in the soft light of the room, his eyes met yours.

"Thank you," Levi whispered, his voice barely audible. "For understanding, for accepting me.”

You smiled, lifting your hand to caress his cheek. "I should be the one thanking you."

As you drifted off to sleep, your head on Levi's shoulder, his heartbeat a steady lullaby, you felt a profound sense of gratitude for being able to share tonight with him.

[stupid-sloot-headcanons]

Amai Mask legit stresses himself out thinking of ways to do right by his fans and showing how much he appreciates them, so I imagine that once he starts to develop genuine feelings for Darling outside of obsession and possessiveness and narcissistic anger, he'd also keep himself up thinking of ways to appreciate them. Obviously he can't let them go free lol, that's just silly. He needs them and they should need him too.

Still, he'll want to give them thoughtful gifts amidst all the designer clothes and skincare products he gives them. He'll put more time into his schedule for donning disguises to go out with them more (he's primarily worried about his fans' reaction to him having a partner, but eventually he wants to reveal his Darling once he knows they won't try to run off or blab about the real nature of their relationship). He'll give them more alone time even when it kills him inside because he wants access to them and what he wants should matter more.

He also finds it therapeutic to do their makeup or do a whole hair and skincare routine FOR them. Obviously they don't know what they're doing, or else they wouldn't look like they were in dire need of some vitamin E oil and a hair mask. He's low-key amazed that they were confident enough to go out without wearing makeup every day before he kidnapped them. He's already using them as stress relief so treating them like a living doll isn't much of a stretch.

He also gets clingy when they're alone together: always wanting his hands on them, always putting one arm around them in bed, always pouting a little on the inside if they're paying attention to something besides him.

[gofancyninjaworld]

OPM Manga Update 233 Review: Evaluation

I had initially postponed writing this until the next chapter, but I've come to realise I have so much meta to write that it's best I do each chapter individually.

Summary because it's been a moment

The first part of the chapter is set in the mountains above City G where the Council of Swordmasters is based. At their building, the three disciples are reviewing what they've been able to unearth about Sweet Mask. It's precious little, with nothing available before his signing up as a hero. Iaian surmises that this fits in with the information that Bushidrill has been able to uncover on Amai's shifting appearance. They consider that the shape-shifting could be a special power, but in light of his behaviour towards Do-S's hostages, was much more likely a sign of progressive monsterization. Iaian expands on it by recounting what he'd seen of Sweet Mask at the surface when he'd seen a monster struggling to keep its humanity. With surprising empathy, Iaian states that it's often those who've lost something who know its true value. They decide to keep a careful eye on Sweet Mask but say nothing to Atomic for now. Okamaitachi hopes that they end up glad to have kept Sweet Mask's hands clean.

Elsewhere, we see Kamikaze (it is not right to call him Atomic Samurai in this context) and Nichirin paying their respects at a shrine dedicated to successive generations of the Swordmasters. They are accompanied by two young people, here to take the places of the slain Swordmasters. We are treated to Yuta's thoughts of hunting down whatever remains of the Monster Association. Nichirin apologises to the pair to say that if he'd been stronger -- but Shido cuts him short. His father lived by the sword, after all, and falling in battle was an honourable death. Besides, as a bodyguard, seeing Nichirin alive would have pleased him.

Speaking of that, given how gravely Nichirin had been injured, it naturally leads to Kamikaze asking after the old man's health. Nichirin sits on the ground and hitches his robes up to show a pair of cybernetic legs. His entire lower half is now mechanical and he's apparently no worse off for it [Aside: I guess the doctors who butchered Air back in Chapter 182 weren't joking about Metal Knight's skill in cyborg medicine].

He stands up, and, declaring that circulating one's chi through body and weapons made them part of a whole -- artificial bodies included -- unsheathes his sword and slices at an apple that he tossed into the air. The apple is apparently unharmed, but the cliff face in the background is cleaved. The apple falls to the ground, and Shido and Yuta marvel at the accuracy of the old man's cutting the cliff but sparing the apple. Nichirin states that he did cut the apple as well. Kamikaze picks up the apple and explains that this is Nichirin's special technique: it's so fast and finally that the Apple rejoined itself, apparently unharmed. He is relieved the old man is his usual self.

It's now Nichirin's turn to ask him a question. Now that his rival Bang has retired, will Kamikaze stay at the Hero Association? Kamikaze looks wistful for a moment as he recalls himself leading the charge to take down Psykos-Orochi. He says that, indeed, he'd initially gone only to challenge himself, but now he had experienced something that he couldn't get anywhere else. Besides, he still had one more person whose strength he needed to fathom -- we are shown that it is King. He'd decide after then.

As he takes his leave, Nichirin thinks that Kamikaze has changed. Being thrown among a variety of strong fighters with vastly different strengths had broadened his mind. Maybe being a hero wasn't so bad after all. He says that last part out loud to Yuta's puzzlement.

We cut to the hero Association and to Saitama and Genos approaching it. Inside, Forte is putting the finishing touches to a dog house Black Sperm is disgusted, but shelter and food, even if it is only dog food, are what he needs right now, at least until he rebuilds his cell count. Saitama and Genos heave into view and Forte greets them. Black Sperm rushes behind the dog house in well-justified fear. His life wouldn't be worth a scrap of cigarette ash if Genos caught sight of him. Fortunately, Genos is a bit distracted, first by the dog's name, then by the news that Forte lives next door to Saitama. He wastes no time in evicting Forte.

I have a feeling the dog is going to be trouble

Finally, we're in the M-City branch of Mouse Sushi, the cheap rotating sushi place with the infamous nasty t-shirts Saitama loves. Atomic Samurai is there with his disciples, having paid a futile visit to King's residence. There's only one problem with this place: someone keeps taking every plate they have their eye on. After the fatty tuna plate is taken, Atomic stands up to confront the person only to find that is King. The chapter ends with Atomic standing over an anxious King and asking if he could talk to him for a few minutes.

Whew, if you think this is meaty, wait until we get to the meta. Grab a drink!

Meta

I really struggled with thinking where to even begin with this one. Well, let's take it like a hot bowl of soup, start on the outside and work our way in.

The Real Kaijin Shows Up

Small things first. It's hilarious that Genos invokes more fear than the actual monsters do at Saitama's residence. Surprising that he's been visiting Saitama for a while but has never run across Saitama's neighbours or pets until now. You'd think that Saitama had brought home a tiger. As if he were extolling how the beast is still barely half-grown and tame, and all everyone else could see is how it's already the size of a large fridge with cruelly-curved claws longer than one's fingers and fangs sturdy enough to bite through one's skull. Forte may know not to mess with Saitama but he's so aware of Genos's capacity to do actual violence to him that the latter doesn't even need to breathe a word of threat to commandeer his house.

the really big dogs don't need to growl

Don't Panic, It's Just A Monster

I love thus story: people are not blind or stupid. It's hard to keep secrets when someone takes an interest. The disciples are on Amai Mask's trail, and while they're fairly certain that they've uncovered a monster hiding as a human being, the circumspection and nuance they're showing is remarkable.

Despite their misgivings, they're prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt and see him more as a person struggling to retain his humanity than as a monster biding its time to strike. In this, Iaian leans towards the former interpretation, while Bushidrill would rather err on the side of caution. Okamaitacchi is in the middle but is of the mind that this is a fluid situation that could go either way.

It's really neat that what was once a one-off gag, with Iaian telling Meltzegard that he could read the latter's murderous intent, has been repeatedly revisited ad deepened in the course of the story to create what is a wise and sympathetic response to a potentially dangerous situation. The disciples aren't blind to the danger of a monstrous hero, but because they can read intentions, they're willing to be heroes to the core and risk reaching out a helping hand to a struggling person.

Iaian's taking a risk in hoping there's a person in Amai who can be saved. But what else is a hero about?

Decisions and Inspirations

So, what will you do, Kamikaze? Had Nichirin died, what he'd have had to do would have been simple. As the new head of the Council of Swordmasters, Atomic would have had to resign as a hero and raise up a new generation. Thankfully, he's been spared that.

It's refreshing to get more insight into Atomic's character and find that he's been looking for both a source of challenge and inspiration in his life. Bang had certainly provided both while he'd been a fellow pro-hero. However, Atomic deciding to lead a charge to the very skies rather than stand on his pride and be an old man shouting impotently at the battle raging overhead had been a revelation. Terrible as the Monster Association showdown had been, it had also been a peak experience unlike any he could have imagined. He's hooked. [Since this is so late, Child Emperor's suggestions of a specialist dragon-slaying team would have found in Atomic an enthusiastic sponsor]. But he still wants a rival, so off he is to challenge King.

a new fire has been lit in this guy who thought he understood everything

Coming to Nichirin, I have three things to say:

A: Words Are Best Eaten Cold, With Salt

Despite having a disciple working as a hero (Spring Mustachio), Nichirin hasn't thought too highly of heroes. Depending on the translation, he'd called them hunters... or pest controllers. It's nice to see that he's had to eat his words.

I hope those words are tasty

B: The Old Lie

'Dolce et decorum est pro patria mori' . I don't blame Shido for clinging onto a view of his father bravely laying down his life. He needs all the comfort he can get.

We know the truth. Zambai was not felled by a superior foe but by a sentient barf bag spitting in his face.

Amahare's desecrated remains were so fragmentary that his coffin needed only a single pallbearer. A cruel duty indeed for Yuta to perform.

Nor can we forget Spring Mustachio fighting desperately to stop Nichirin's transected body from being burned, then Fubuki frantically keeping him alive, his guts kept from spilling out by what had been Genos's precious designer jacket.

a tableau of horror

This had been an actual conflict, not a carefully-managed test of skill vulgarly called a 'fight', and there was nothing sweet, fitting, nor fair about it.

C: Sword and Spirit

AND NOW FOR THE PART I'VE BEEN WAITING FOREVER FOR! Forever being from December 2017. It also ties into more recent chapters. The border between living and non-living has always been a bit porous in One-Punch Man and it's amazing to watch Nichirin make no distinction between his biological body, his sword, and his prostheses to forge a whole that is much greater than the sum of its parts. Once again, it comes down to spirit and willpower.

Had Genos witnessed this, he'd have asked Saitama for a leave of absence to study under Nichirin. This is the missing part that has been nagging at him, the question he'd asked Saitama about whether his parts truly made him stronger, to which Saitama had had no answer. Heck, just being able to observe Nichirin would have been profoundly inspirational for Genos.

ONE, however, is not in the business of giving Genos anything cheaply. No, on current headings, he's going to have to work it out for himself. Indeed, he accidentally and instinctively touched on the answer when he seamlessly rejoined himself after being bitten in two by Elder Centipede. He didn't think about what he was doing then: he was just totally determined not to be dismissed by that miserable worm. [It goes without saying that Kuseno did not get a distress call, nor brave monsters to see what the fuck was going on for himself because of a mere broken leg and some loosened plates of armour.]

Before and after: plates laid on a bias rejoining so perfectly there's no damage to see. And all the internals are fine too. Black magic shit that got the old engineer out of bed to do a field inspection.

Come to that, Saitama does know about the importance of will but does not know it consciously. Yet another gag that has become very much not a gag is that any object Saitama holds that he does not want to break becomes unbreakable. Cheap store-bought chopsticks catch a falling man -- and his clothes, in turn, don't give way. They become an extension of Saitama, like Nichirin's sword does of himself. Speaking of swords, it's notable that when Atomic Samurai managed to draw the sun blade, it was impossible to tell where the man ended and the sword began. Saitama just has no idea that that's what he's doing, so he can't teach it to his increasingly frustrated disciple.

the same principle, played very differently, but each in a life-or-death situation

And like that, another piece of the puzzle of the power scheme of OPM has been shown to us. No one character has the whole picture. We will hopefully get to piece it together by the end, and we hope that the right characters understand it well enough at the right time to make for good outcomes.

Next chapter review will be much shorter!

[jaijaitbinks]

Crack idea:

Saitama uses morse code. He doesn't know it by heart, not the entire alphabet and numerical system, but he knows a very... select few words.

Genos finds this out when, while he and his sensei are stuck in some S-Class meeting about Professionalism and Heroism, mostly orchestrated by Amai Mask, he starts tapping a rhythm into the table with concentrated eyes. At first, Genos thought he was tapping the melody of a song, but he realized it was too robotic and choppy for that. Whenever Saitama taps rhythms, it's smooth, his fingers fluent and dramatic in their taps, and, more often than not, he follows the tune of the vocals, not the beat.

He has a sneaking suspicion about what it is he's tapping, and pulls up a decoder in his HUD. His eyes widen when it picks up on a R, then a E. He figures he only caught the tail end of what Saitama was tapping, because the man pauses before doing it again. In the corner of his vision, the decoder translates each letter.

W... H... O... R–

Genos strangles out a shocked gasp, catching everyone's attention. Amai doesn't waste a beat in reprimanding him, but Genos pays attention to none of it, instead trying his damnedest not to laugh.

[nyxrev]

An Album of Reaction to Various Difficulties

How to Avoid Responsibility:

When you fall down a research rabbit hole at an ungodly hour & ghost civilization for next week:

^. …(n emerge from your den two months later) ^When the Bus hits a steep road full of potholes

Unstoppable Force meets Immovable Object

Halfway through full-shift of customer service: …ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I Want to Go Home

When you need to play along with smb's angelic public facade but you know they are disastrous privately. :^X:V (tries to make grimace face)

… oO- *freefall beyond*

she look exactly like how I would expect an HR agent sent out to recruit fresh potential to look

Except, Shizuka went to recruit Axcel(?) but out of expectation, it's almost like she got scouted for (Neo) instead

Attention Class:

(full-house attendance at the start of semester)

4hr lectures with a circular lecturer

(mid-sem: 50% ………end sem: 20-45% alt. ppl)

Types of Students: (clockwise)

Tried to Pay Attention but Cannot Comprehend

Can't Stand it but tries to listen Out of Courtesy

Zoned Out Early On & didn't bother to refocus

Truly Concentrated but Lost Track Halfway

Either Completely Absent or Escapes Partway

Bonus: Backbenchers get Unlucky Drawn to Answer The Question (snoozy guards) + the one teacher who always asks “Do you understand? Do you understand??” (Genos) + student who understood & urgently awaits teacher to move onto next topic (ZM)

Hear Me Out. (Ok ok calm down)

…My dog ate my homework ē-ē (HAa!?)

Zombieman's world weary expression lmao, and the one panel where he literally fumes at Amai.

Sometimes I feel like only few of them keep the sanity of S-Class (& management) consistent, like fairly cooperative and do not unnecessarily escalate situations, can think critically, eg. Child Emperor, ZM, Pig God, Bang mb but he retired, hm…

Anyway how has the HA roster shuffled now, with Saitama promoted, an unknown number out of commission, possibly even some who quit, or moved affiliation?

[the-nysh]

I love what amai did this chapter it kind of shows Amai Mask abandoning his idea of a pillar of justice and instead kind of adopting Saitama's view of heroes, where everyone who tries to be a hero is valid and trying to inspire new ones. It's such a great development of his character.

Something quite moving/miraculous/extraordinary happened here, for sure. :') Cause here's the same character, now doing a very humble, Saitama-like heroic gesture for a kid in his own unique, heartfelt, pay-it-forward kind of way:

The last time we saw him, Sweet Mask believed himself to be 'too late' (monsterized) past the point of no return before, that he requested Saitama to kill him right there in front of the crowd as the perfect opportunity to take up that 'ideal hero' mantle in his place...only for Saitama to save him (from getting stoned), appeal to his humanity (by telling him he's a 'really cool guy' for the lengths he went thru to genuinely save everyone), and assure him things are only getting started for him instead, cause despite everything, nothing's 'over.' Saitama helps him escape and encourages him that he can still go on to become that ideal hero he seeks, himself.

That was Saitama's last line to him before Sweet Mask's whereabouts were mysteriously left on a cliffhanger. But now?

It seems Sweet Mask really took Saitama's words to heart. :') Cause instead of embracing his fate (to die as a monster), permanently going into hiding, or ceasing his hero activities (what he wants to be! and always has been at his core) altogether, the very first thing we see of him is going out of his way to save a kid and his grandma by embodying that kid's personal ideal image of a hero (becoming his toy come to life) and inspiring him in turn to become the real deal someday too. Like. :')) From then to now!!!!!

The group of neos watching the scene claimed he was only mimicking to trick the kid, but no, SM's actions - choosing to anonymously help people during a literal crisis with no other personal gain to fame, read entirely genuine to me.

The same way he made the fateful decision to sacrifice his entire established identity to save the ungrateful crowd (who could only stone him back in return), because...if he personally sees himself a hero, as human at all (the way Saitama encouraged), then leaving everyone to die just to save his own skin/reputation back then would've been completely unacceptable. Despite everything, despite his monstrous true form and the disastrous personal risks to reveal it, he still chose the selfless path of a hero. Cause at his core, that was something he could not abandon. :'))

And now, after Saitama's help, it's hard to say (without further ch followup) how much his core - his ongoing struggle with monsterization/bloodlust, has safely stabilized, but it's clear in the interim he's found an ingenious way he can still use his powers to continue and actively become more of that 'ideal hero' of his dreams... As someone who chooses to help empower the weak (kids/elderly) with validation and encouragement, inspiring them with hope and reassurance, etc? Cause before, Sweet Mask was motivated by a sense of terminal urgency in his need to find/produce someone else to become that heroic pillar in his place, as his fastest solution to the problem, but without that looming threat (to his own mind and waning humanity alleviated) perhaps this - the services we see of him in the current ch, is more of what he's honestly always wanted to be all along...? (Again, it's hard to say for sure how much comes from his own reformed ideas or a mix inspired/adopted from Saitama's influence without more followup. Cause we never saw how they parted or what else Saitama may have said to help him get back on his feet, which even Genos notes.) But we've seen from ONE how it doesn't matter what's on the outside, or how others perceive/label/judge you, because if you genuinely want to be something (at the core, with your heart in the right place), and choose to take those necessary steps to become it, then you simply are that - a hero. (which Garou's story showed in a similar way.) And in this case, we see how Sweet Mask, a monsterized human struggling thru his own personal demons, can still fully be a hero at heart too. :')

Anyway tl;dr: Sweet Mask, aka Beauto, is one of the wc's best characters.

[highmarc]

Polyjuice dialogues.

The funniest mission. I wish we had more dialogues there.

Sebastian.

P.N. Black: Mister Shallow, I presume?

Sebastian: Hello, Professo-

Black: Madam Scribner has told me about your recent adventures in the restricted section. Told me you didn’t come alone this time even.

 Sebastian: I was alone.

Black: As you wish, but if you decide to open up to me about your mysterious partner in crime – don’t hesitate and pay me a visit.

Sebastian: Ass.

Amit.

Amit: Oh, well… goodness! Hello, Professor Black!

Black: Stargazing again, I see? Care to look where you’re going, Mr. Drakkar.

Amit: I’m sorry, sir, professor, headmaster?

Poppy.

Black: Polly Swelling?

Poppy: Good day, Professor Black. It’s Pop-

Black: I’ve recently heard of your unusual obsession with beasts. If only every student was as involved in their studies as you. Good for you. Now, I’ve no time to waste, if you excuse me.

Poppy: No one is going to believe me.

Leander.

Black: Mister Scamander Dewette?

Leander: I-

Black: As far as I’m concerned, you’ve got classes to attend. Be on your way. And fix that tie of yours, will you.

Leander: Stu-

Black: Mister Dewette, I can perfectly hear every word you say behind my back.

Leander : Yes, sir, I- *runs away*

Natty.

Black: Ah. Miss Amai!

Natty: Good day, Professor, Black.

Black: I gather everything is all right?

Natty: Yes… I mean. Yes, everything is good.

Black: Keep it up, miss Onai. We need such capable students like you.

Natty: What’s gotten into him?

[rennebright]

羽川ハスミパイズリ by Amai pai [Twitter/X] ※Illustration shared with permission from the artist. If you like this artwork please support the artist by visiting the source.

[x-fantasy-is-my-reality-x]

Mayhem

"Genos..."

"Yes Sen-" A piece of soap came soaring in a wide arc to smack the young cyborg full on the face, stunning him into silence for a second. It fell into his hand, now imprinted with the vague definition of his features as a scream ran out from inside the locker room.

He frowned upon closer inspection; was that a bite mark embedded deep on the surface of the disfigured soap?

"Genos. Look," Saitama pointed calmly behind him in the doorway, his oval face boasting the same unreadable expression as always, a complete contrast to the chaos unfolding before them.

God was dead, and so were any of their remaining brain cells.

They, as in Metal Bat and Garou, were in the process of bashing each other's brains out in front of the hot tub with nothing but small towels wrapped around their waists, while a scantily clad Mumen Rider tried unsuccessfully to hold them apart. Bang and Atomic Samurai sat impassively in the tub behind them, occasionally commenting on their moves and acting as if nothing was wrong with two extremely buff and hot-headed boys trying their damn hardest to throttle each other. And was a baseball bat even allowed inside a locker room?

"Sensei, should we do something?" Genos asked with a glance at the bald hero.

"Nah, let's just find a place to sit before they burn down the building."

And part of him almost wished they did when Puri Puri Prisoner suddenly strutted in front of them buck-ass nude, heading with questionable intentions straight for Zombieman who was just trying to wash his hair on the bench.

"Hey! Cut it out you idiots! No one wants to deal with you two so just get out!" Another familiar voice rang out above all the noise as Amai Mask stomped over to the teenage brawlers, who were now completely naked and bloody. Neither pair seemed to realize that their towels had long been discarded, and Metal Bat was bleeding heavily from the face while Garou sported a few dark-colored bruises. Metal Bat swung once Amai Mask was within range, spitting out a few colorful curses that would put any sailor to shame as he missed by a hair.

The battle escalated, now a three-way fight as Mumen Rider lay passed out a few feet away, caught in the earlier crossfire. The poor guy would need new glasses once again.

"Here should be a good spot," Saitama said, pointing at a few unoccupied benches further away. It wasn't until a solid ten minutes that he sensed something was off, as if someone was watching him. Turning to the left, he was met with the blank gaze of a man in a furry white suit perched on top of the tiled wall, Watchdog Man.

How long has this guy been watching me?

He gazed back but Watchdog Man refused to look away. Maybe he was in an odd coma or something.

Okay...

"Sensei what's wrong?" Genos asked, as if sensing his discomfort.

"It's nothing I-" He was interrupted by a war cry as a ninja star suddenly lodged itself in the wall in front of him.

"Saitama! I've tracked you all the way here, now come fight me!" Sonic howled, not even waiting for a reply as he leapt towards him fully clothed from the entrance.

At least this one has clothes on, Saitama sighed.

"I'll take care of this Sensei!" Genos zoomed past him, incinerator glowing orange.

"No wait Genos! Don't use your cannons-"

BOOM!

The outer layer of the wall on the opposite side crumbled, leaving charred concrete behind as Sonic bounced around the open area.

"Ah, too late. Well, hopefully he has enough to pay for the repairs."

"Ah shit! You'll pay for that!" Flashy Flash roared as Sonic and Genos barreled into him and knocked him into a bucket of soapy water.

"Wait Flashy Flash!" Child Emperor pleaded, immediately chasing after them with the help of mechanical spider legs that sprouted from his backpack. The bathhouse really needed to upgrade their security. The three of them were now a dizzy blur dancing around the locker room.

Zombieman was sent flying into the wall as they rammed into him blindly, the back of his head hitting the wall with a sickening crack.

"Sorry!"

"Oh my God you killed him!" Puri Puri Prisoner sobbed in anguish, sprinting after him in all his naked glory.

Truth be told, to Zombieman the brief respite that death offered was far better than the awkward conversation he had been having with the ex-convict after the shittiest pick-up line he had ever heard in his entire immortal life.

"Have you ever been arrested?" Puri Puri Prisoner purred, fluttering his eyelashes at the pale man.

Zombieman furrowed his brows, replying with a very confused and hesitant "No?"

"Why do you ask?" He continued, nearly shuddering at the way the tall hero was eyeing his exposed chest.

"Because it must be illegal to look that good," Puri Puri Prisoner finished, and Zombieman could swear that the world was out to get him.

"Uh thanks," he muttered awkwardly. Never in his life would he have thought he would have be hit on by a criminal hero in the middle of a locker room full of out-of-control men acting like it was the goddamn apocalypse.

Yeah, death sounded good right about now. He would take every precious second enjoying the darkness before he healed and was dragged back into that living nightmare. Perhaps it was time to invest in some therapy.

"Garou, my boy, did you forget every technique I taught you? You're holding your hand wrong. You need to strike with your palm at an angle," Bang corrected as Metal Bat dodged his attack.

"Shut up old man! I wasn't trying to use your stupid technique anyways!" Garou snarled, springing forward again.

"Hey whose side are ya on anyways?"

"Sorry Metal Bat, old men like myself just can't help it," Bang grinned sheepishly.

"You dare turn your back on me?" Amai Mask punched him in the ribs with his momentary distraction, only enraging the seventeen-year-old more.

"I'll rip yer fucking head off you prick!"

"I don't think I ever want to come here again," Saitama said calmly as he watched a fire break out in the wet bathhouse.

A ninja star exploded behind him as Puri Puri Prisoner strutted past his vision. 

[theomnicode]

Old but good; analyzing Saitama vs Genos

Wonder if the Saitama and Genos spar is the first time someone actually takes Saitama seriously, as a person with serious ability and as a person who can be legitimately threathening and a respectable fighter.

With Genos going all out and not underestimating or belittling Saitama's ability and instead calling him out on not fighting seriously enough because he was just avoding hits and not striking back, really won Genos quite a few points in Saitama's book. That Genos noticed it in the first place that Saitama was holding back and noticed it very fast to boot, spoke of keen intellectualism and analytical skills.

When he was stupendously shocked instead of idk, fainting after a Death punch, Genos showed he had actual guts to face death head on too and wasn't just all talk and no show and that's why Saitama chose to invite him out on dinner later. Genos was trying to impress Saitama, so Saitama tested him and chose to reveal his full ability in return and was happy with what he found since Genos didn't run away screaming.

He slaps genos forehead with a knowing smile and eye-brow raise to get him out of his shock; it's not every day a guy has to face death head on and lives to tell the tale.

It is something Saitama has faced himself multiple times when he was training to become stronger, so he would know the feeling quite well.

Having the composure to still be standing in the face of Saitama's Serious punch means Genos can practically face anything the world throws at him without flinching and still rise to the challenge and that's all the confirmation Saitama needs if he's to actually take Genos as disciple. Someone hanging around him would come face to face with world ending threats of far higher caliber than is the norm, of that he has no doubt. Just for the sake of their own protection, they'd have to rise to Saitama's level if they want to hang around with him because Saitama is a monster magnet.

And maybe after a Death punch, anything else is practically too tame to even induce a shock, so Genos would be better prepared to face destructive force like that and not freeze and be able to dodge.

The invitation for spontaneous late dinner seems to be just as much of an silent apology as it is an invitation that Saitama wanted to get to know Genos better. The guy impressed him enough to be quite interesting. Genos being legitimately interested in HIM and not deterred despite showing just how dangerous he could be, made him interesting.

(Saitama was going to pay for both since he invited Genos, he planned out the restaurant based on his low funds and based on that it had good Udon and the evening time gave it a more "romantic" overtone, so yea, it was "technically" a date too.)

I also highly doubt that Saitama looking back at Genos was just because of he was unsure if Genos liked udon, but more about second-guessing himself if he had actually went too far after all, because Genos still wasn't reacting and wondering if he had actually scared him too much or something. Saitama doesn't Death punch people for fun, so there could've always been an adverse reaction.

Saitama was also seemingly second-guessing himself in spontaneously asking Genos out for dinner in the first place. What if he was making some kind of social plunder here because Genos was just staring at him with a weird expression?

Fortunately, it wasn't a plunder for Saitama.

--

Unfortunately, Saitama probably also feels like he's just a wallflower compared to Genos and all the people vying for Genos' attention afterwards; Amai-mask the Handsome Kamen and all the fangirls, one who blatantly just asked Genos to shake her hand is a source of envy because he wasn't confident enough to do anything remotely the same. Genos is a show-stopper and Saitama definitely noticed this and so he doesn't want his new disciple to even work with him to steal the glory. Saitama's low self-worth does not do him any favours.

Instead of getting rookie-crushers trying to crush his hopes of succeeding, Genos even gets treated differently. People didn't seek out to test his ability as S-ranker, but seemingly sought him out for entirely different reasons, not interested in fighting skills...and the only connecting dot Saitama seems to figure out that Genos just looks far more handsome and he's popular because of his looks, so Genos already forges better connections immediately. Fangirls don't want to fight, far from it, they just want to know him.

The lower the rank, the less popular and uglier the hero is. The higher the rank, the more popular, better connected and good looking the hero seems to be.

Not unlike in multiple irl job circles where people who have the looks get more foot inside the door and the higher status you are, one often just looks the role.

It just perpetuates the poor self-image he has of himself when other C-rank heroes claim they are popular too (Tank toppers), so Saitama is just an exception to the rule of being unpopular C-ranker, so it must be something about himself that is wrong. That he's the only common denominator in being unpopular and it HAS to relate to how lame and plain he looks. Because he doesn't look like a buff Tank topper either, that must be one of the reasons he's not popular.

(Saitama's self-image is really quite awful innit? I'd need to do some serious research to see if it has gotten even a smidge better)

Genos is S-rank, he's C-rank. Genos looks pretty, he does not. Genos is amazing, he is lame. Genos is popular, he is unknown and disliked. Genos has nice hair, he does not and worse, he used to have hair but lost it and all that remains is a shiny bald head. There is a lot for Saitama to be envious about when he just tries to be himself, but nobody likes him when he tries to be just himself. Too plain to ever be noticed. Upward comparing himself to Genos doesn't do his self-esteem any favours and he plainly shoots down any kind of flattery.

It is no wonder if Saitama feels like he just can't compare to Genos and has taken this long to actually show any kind of affection and confidence to express his true feelings; his poor self-esteem just made him feel like he never had a chance anyway from the start and Genos is definitely out of his league, being everything he hoped he could be. And probably not actually really interested in him in that way despite titivating himself to Saitama, that was just an ulterior motive just like his empty flattery before meteor incident, plain to see through.

After is a different story, because Saitama did something heroic, so there was an actual reason behind it and Saitama can appreciate Genos being more honest and cheering him up and listening to him rant.

It does send up quite the mixed signals however, so it takes a long time to figure out his intentions just to be on the safe side.

Can't say for sure if Saitama has stopped comparing himself to Genos completely, but his looks and lack of popularity are no doubt still a sore spot, even if he has since learned to greatly appreciate Genos and how he complements him instead of highlighting the differences.

[randomstuffprime2]

Can I request some convenient censoring? :P

iwbitu

dyun

jmg

yampa

melon22

echosaber

.

amai-pai

hikari (komitiookami)

mm (mhm2592)

[ricihh]

Ayano Aishi Headcanons!! (Not Yandere Au)

The eldest daughter of Ryoba and Togo.

She has a younger brother. They both get along considerably well, despite their different tastes.

Good bonds with her mother and father, just a little afraid to share things that happen in her life with them (and when she does tell, it is to Togo, who is a terrible adviser by nature).

Ace Lesbian.

She has social phobia and autism.

This means that in this Au she feels emotions, but has trouble recognizing other people's and her own.

Very similar to her father (both in manner and taste).

Practically canon (see her room), but a big fan of otaku culture and anime games.

She has a fixation with magical girls and saves money to buy figures and other otaku stuff.

Heavy user of Discord—oops, Yancord. She has several online friends there and loves to play with them.

Very jealous and does NOT know how to hide it.

She can play guitar (Togo taught her).

She has dark circles under her eyes from sleeping late.

She would like to join the gaming club, but lacks a little courage (she joins eventually with Taeko's help).

She likes occult, but doesn't know if she would join the club or something.

She has difficulty making friends. Often starts conversations by asking for people's Yancord users.

Ayano: Uh... S-so, what is your Yancord user?

Taeko: Wut–

She fell in love at first sight with her senpai and thought she would never be able to talk to her. She tried very hard to befriend Osana and make her understand her feelings.

She confessed to Senpai after that.

She is terrible at showing feelings (just like her father, but nicer about it).

She was the first person to know that Senpai is a trans woman.

Ayano: I have something serious to talk to you about, senpai. I-I think I like girls.

Taeko, in a female wig: And I think I am a girl.

Ayano: Oh. I-I didn't see that coming.

Taeko: Me neither.

Extremely supportive.

She likes cats and gets one eventually.

She loved listening to horror stories told by her parents (mostly Ryoba) before bedtime. This made her a big horror fan.

Ryoba tries to get her as far away from her uncle in the Yakuza as possible at his own request. However, the delinquents and Osoro know about this (and that she has an ex-delinquent father) and are good friends with her.

But she always refuses to join their group, because Ayano wants to look presentable for her senpai and is not good at physical fighting.

Even if she is very fond of martial arts.

Budo is a close friend and thinks she shouldn't hang out with the delinquents so much.

Ayano has contacted her Yakuza uncle a few times. The first time she was just a child, and to fulfill a challenge that some naughty children gave her, she contacted her uncle by seeing his number in a little notebook in her parents' bedroom.

Young Ayano: I need some bang snaps.

Yakuza: sigh. Look, Ayano. We don't work with that kind of thing around here.

Young Ayano: But mom said that uncle works with dangerous things!

The second time, she asked her uncle for illegal things to complete the delinquents tasks. He refused, so she tried to get it at school.

The third time, Ayano contacted him again and begged him to help Taeko get illegal feminizing hormone therapy. She said she would pay him as much as he wanted, but Yakuza just gave in to the request and, saying it was the only deal he would do for her, provided illegal hormones totally for free.

Ryoba finds out about this and starts a way to get HRT legally for Taeko with correct prescription and everything. Ayano is relieved.

Ayano uses the delinquents to protect Taeko from the bullies.

But she keeps running away from them every time they even remotely touch the subject of her joining them.

Taeko: You know, I don't mind if you go blond.

Ayano: but I do......

She has difficulty with some school subjects, and Taeko always helps her study.

Amai, Osana and Osoro are quite friendly to her. She has had some conversations with Oka (mostly because they both like occult) and they feel related to each other from afar. She feels intimidated by Kizana (for her air of superiority) and Hanako (she dislikes Ayano). Ayano is indifferent about the remains of those who would be her rivals, minus Mida Rana, engaging in a plan to denounce her for her criminal acts around the school.

Ayano finds Info-chan and the proposal they made to her quite strange, especially since Info-chan never revealed their intentions and how they knew about Ayano's crush on Taeko. This instigated Ayano, who tried to get more information about Info-chan by contacting them to befriend Osana (the first “rival” as Info-chan likes to call her), asked her own colleagues and visited the clubs near Info Club, but got no results. Ayano still thinks this is an interesting mystery and knows she is being watched from afar for having managed to date Taeko so easily—even though Info-chan has tried to appear harmless to her, Ayano suspects something more involved in this after Info-chan indirectly encourages her to use aggressive methods in their first conversation. However, Info-chan still remains a complete mystery and deleted their contact from Ayano's cell phone after Ayano started dating Taeko.