#hibino watch out

[readkaijuno8]

Kaiju no. 8

[spinningwebsandtales]

Imagine Kafka Taking Care Of You At A Kaiju Cleanup Sight

Kafka Hibino X FemReader

Rating: T

Warnings: Kaiju gore, blood

Word Count: 1.3k

(A/N:) I have been so dang excited about the Kaiju No. 8 anime! I have read the manga since it came out and when they finally announced it getting an anime adaption, I freaked out. So yesterday was so awesome, I watched it three times! XD So I apologize for the fangirl I'm about to become and hopefully all the other Kaiju No. 8 fangirls can appreciate what I'm about to do! Until next time happy reading! ~Countess

You just knew your bosses hated you. It wasn't unusual for companies like Izumo Tech requesting specialists to go out in the field and oversee the kaiju cleanup crews. Only to make certain that they were receiving the best parts of the kaiju to create weapons, armor, and various forms of gear for the brave men and women who take the battles to the front line. But for some unfortunate reason you were the one being constantly sent out to supervise. It had to be done, even though the majority of the cleaning crews did their jobs right, but you'd be out of a job if you didn't go. This time you were to watch and take note of the Monster Sweep Inc. crew. The best of the business and always making sure they sent nothing but the parts Izumo requests. This wasn't the first time you had overseen this crew and you enjoyed being around them. What you didn't enjoy was dodging spurts of blood, or tripping over entrails, or squishing eyeball pieces under your shoes. The Defense Force always left a mess and it was the brave and iron stomached men and women of the cleaners.

Rubbing at your temples, fighting the oncoming headache, while your driver navigated the destroyed streets of the city. Your bag across your knees and the seatbelt strapped tight. You said a small prayer for the poor white shirt you unwittingly wore today. The car squealed to a stop as you couldn't go any further in the vehicle. Giving you a sorrowful smile, your driver let you out before backing out as fast as he could, leaving you alone in front of a giant bloody kaiju mess. Heaving a large sigh, the tainted coppery tang of kaiju blood filling your nostrils, you got to work.

"Hey Kafka," Masahide called to the dark haired male.

Kafka lifted his face shield wiping sweat from his forehead before heading to Toku's direction. Dread settled in the pit of his stomach, sensing he was being dragged into something else. He just hoped it wasn't entrail duty like the other times. But when Kafka saw you standing at Toku's side everything became clear, but it still didn't mean he was dodging entrail duty just yet.

"(Y/N) just got here. She's being assigned to your side since you're closer to the parts Izumo Tech are looking for."

You gave him a small wave, holding your bag tightly and standing as straight as could be. Making yourself as small as possible seemed like the safer option of keeping clean. You and Kafka knew each other pretty well by now as you had been on several scenes with him and the crew. You had become his charge every time you were on scene and it wasn't unusual for you both to go out for drinks and dinner afterwards. Majority of the time the other guys would join but sometimes you both were alone. So in Kafka's care you always felt safe as he tried his best not to splatter you with any kaiju fluids. Majority of cleaners didn't like you around, thinking that you were only here because the company thought they were doing their jobs wrong when it was the complete opposite. So it wasn't unusual for you to get doused in gore in an act of retaliation.

"Welcome back," Kafka said giving you a warm smile.

"Looks like you guys have your work cut out for you this time," you replied.

He sighed, shoulders sagging in defeat, "They keep upping our finish dates every time a kaiju is dispatched. They're really working us to the bone."

"Well if anyone can do it and handle it it's you guys," you offered him what little encouragement you could.

"Thanks." Kafka walked past you leaving you a little confused as he went to the company van. He tugged a large protective jacket from a bag on the floorboard before setting it on your shoulders. You gratefully slipped your arms inside and zipped it up to your chin. It swallowed you but you wouldn't complain.

"Thank you so much!"

Kafka blushed, "Didn't want your pretty shirt to get messed up."

"I didn't know I was coming out into the field until I came to work," you grumbled. "I would have dressed accordingly. Please continue like I'm not even here."

"I couldn't do that even if I tried," Kafka laughed. "Follow me. Some idle chat would do me some good."

Time passed by quickly as you and Kafka fell into easy chatter and before you both knew it lunch break was called. Majority of the time the smells of the dead kaiju killed your appetite but some form of luck came your way as the wind was right. Blowing the majority of the stench in the opposite direction. But still you couldn't do anything more than nibble on a few veggies you had packed in your bento. Kafka noticed you barely eating, so he dug around in his cooler. Tossing you a can, you caught it, barely.

"Ginger ale," he said at your confused glance. "It'll help settle your stomach. I carry them around just in case I'm on entrail duty. I also have some nausea pills somewhere too." He started to pat around in his pockets.

"No that's okay," you hurriedly grabbed his wrist. "This is more than enough thank you."

Sipping at the cold beverage and testing out a few bites of your lunch. You were able to finish most of it, but didn't push your luck as you had a couple more hours of staying on sight. The bark of the tree you leaned against, bit into your back. But you enjoyed the moment of just being able to take it easy. It was a rare thing to get to enjoy the slow pace of life. Between kaiju attacks, rushing around for work, and the fast pace of just life in general; you didn't find many times like this. Kafka, now finished with his lunch, leaned backwards cushioning his head with his hands. He breathed deep relaxing as the sun danced across his skin.

"Want to grab something later together," Kafka asked. His shoulders shaking as his nerves almost made him redact his question. You carefully slid your hand over, tugging at his sleeve, Kafka removed the hand you wanted from behind his head. You clasped his tightly in your grip, threading your fingers together causing him to stiffen. He knew he was sweaty and it only made his hand sweat worse and he didn't know how you felt about that. But you didn't let go.

"I would like that a lot," you replied. This time resting your head on his shoulder. "Thanks for taking care of me Kafka when I come here."

He gulped, "I enjoy it and want to make sure you're safe."

That had always been the thing. Nobody made you feel as safe as Kafka did. Accidents happened all the time at the sights of kaiju clean up and while it was dangerous for everyone involved. With Kafka you felt like at his side was the safest place that existed. Kafka squeezed your hand, closing his eyes and relishing in the touch of you. He would keep you safe no matter what. As he felt it as his duty as a man and friend. That is just who Kafka is deep down in his core. He squeezed your hand tighter resting his head on top of yours. Taking in the moment with you before you both got back to work. Yeah if you were by his side it was the safest place you could possibly be.

[lehguru]

FIRST DATE + KAIJU NO.8 MEN

where they would take you on a first date ft. hibino, ichikawa, narumi, hoshina & isao shinomiya

info: finally writing for one of my favest dilfs hehehe ily isao i can b ur new wife pls one chance; not proofread as always + requests are open!!

kafka hibino is a simple man. he would enjoy a simple cafe or restaurant date, but during the day. hibino wants to have lunch with you, talking and getting a break from your day—it would be extremely relaxing for him. if you two still have time to spare even after finishing, he would take you to a walk, trying his best to subtly show you he wants to hold your hand. in the end, it doesn't matter if you two kiss or not; just spending time with you was enough for him.

reno ichikawa is extremely nervous about going out with you for the first time. he planned it all, asked you out and made sure everything was perfect, but he still got a annoying feeling on his stomach and a buzz on his ears. when you arrived at the museum he suggested, thirty minutes early, he was already there, holding a flower bouquet of your favorite color—if you asked, he would say he had just arrived too, but he would be there two hours earlier. the date ended up being perfect, everything from the museum itself to the way he treated you would be magical.

it doesn't come as a surprise, but gen narumi would drag you to an arcade. he would spend more time trying to win in every single game you two play together than actually anything date related—it makes you wonder if he forgot that you two were supposed to be there as a romantic thing. if he notices you're not having as much fun as him, he would try to get a plushie you want from a claw machine; your fun would come in the form of narumi failing multiple times to get any plushie at all.

soshiro hoshina would take you to the theater for a first date. he wanted to watch a comedy movie, his smile never leaving his lips as he talked about how he liked the actors in it. if there's another movie you want to watch too, he wouldn't mind watching both, so it could be a enjoyable night for both of you. he insists on paying for everything and grabs your favorite candies and beverage; but if you don't watch out, he might eat it all by himself.

isao shinomiya takes you to a fancy restaurant. the thing is: he gets a reservation for the whole restaurant. when he comes to pick you up at your place, he compliments your beauty—he still have the serious expression he always wears, but you can see how his eyes soften up a little—and opens the door for you. at the restaurant, you find it odd that only two waiters are working and there's no one there (you know it's a very good place, so it's even stranger). as if he read your thoughts, the man would whisper that he reserved the whole place so you two would be able to have a little more privacy. the whole night would be amazing, he would hear and ask questions about your day and life, even giving you a soft smile and chuckle if you said something funny that happened to you.

2024 © content belongs to lehguru, but the characters used in them belong to their respective creators!!

[sonicasura]

Kaiju No 8's Kafka Hibino gets dropped into the Godzilla/Kong Monsterverse, how much trouble will he cause?

His kaiju form is no doubt an Alpha if you look at episode 2 of the anime or the manga. Would Godzilla get extremely pissy like he did in Godzilla vs Kong? Maybe although the big guy will have trouble finding Kafka if he stays in human form.

Well, imagine our dear himbo being stuck as Kaiju No 8 throughout the entire stay! The mini kaiju that gave Kafka his powers would definitely hold the transformation as the monsters in the Monsterverse are walking radioactive massive disasters. Not small fry like the unnumbered Kaiju and Honju.

Kafka would absolutely have a meltdown for a few hours before coming up with a game plan. (He has another meltdown as I don't think he can age if stuck in Kaiju form.) His plan is affected by where or when he ends up in the timeline. Movie wise, Kong Skull Island is the earliest as the main events begin in 1973.

A good start considering the Iwi Tribe's connection to Kaiju specifically Kong could prove helpful to Kafka if stranded there. He can get a better handle at his abilities and begins to fully understand the monsters in this universe. Or how a displaced himbo somehow dads fucking King Kong.

If he makes it to civilization, then I bet our himbo would start up his very own Monster Sweepers. There are plenty of messes that kaiju had stirred while Monarch was being secretive. Kafka can still wear clothing so he can cover himself up to his hide appearance.

He's bound to encounter Godzilla a bit early as Skull Island kept Kong hidden by its massive storm wall. Kafka getting roared in the face and the man just gives Big G his version of 'Why are you yelling?!'. The himbo wants to get this latest mess climbed up so he can eat some soba.

Kafka being such a non hostile weirdo probably keeps Godzilla from pursuing a fight. Doesn't mean he leaves the man alone. Godzilla instead becomes that one kid who likes to watch frogs and occasionally be a nuisance to the frequent stray cat by booping their nose.

Poor Kafka tried to chill on the beach only for his new gigantic stalker to show up by splashing him with a small tidal wave. Monarch just in panic mode as they don't understand why Godzilla keeps emerging so randomly. Fully unaware he's there to bully the teeny tiny strange kaiju who likes to mingle around humans.

Even when Kafka shows his true power to help stop the latest kaiju causing trouble, Godzilla still be the asshole cat(affectionate) in this scenario. Sitting right on his front porch and in the way of the door so he has to go out the window to leave. (I had to balance Good yet Mischievous boy Kong so Respectful Asshole Godzilla.)

Kafka may absolutely scare the shit out of every human character but they'll learn he's just a giant dork. Lol

[ghoooooooooooooooost]

hi you're the biggest ossan fucker I know of and I've been curious

has there ever been a time you didn't like an ossan character? do you like all ossan characters by virtue of them being old men?

are there things that make even old men characters unlikable to you? if so like what are some old men characters that made you go "this isn't doing anything for me 😐"

do you watch/read/play new things mainly to find new ossan to enjoy or do you just enjoy the ossan that come along with the media that you're already interested in?

do you have a favorite/best ossans of all time list?

are all your favorite characters old men?

I won't mind if you don't feel like answering. thx for being interesting on my dash!

thank u for enjoying me being on ur dash *salute*

sometimes i just come across things that have an ossan in there other times i specifically seek things out that have an ossan in them

n yea there's been plenty i don't like

normally when a dude is unlikable to me it's for one or more of 3 reasons

he's too much of an asshole n doesn't have parts of his personality i like

he's annoying

i don't like his design

ex of 1: multiple ryu ga gotoku antagonists

ex of 2: that one dude they added into tristamp. i forget his name

ex of 3: some of the guys from eternal boys bc outside of sanada n daisuke they just look like. boys (lol)

some of my favs who aren't old men:

kafka hibino (he's an honorary one but he's only 32 lol)

jiro yamashita (again. i count him n he calls himself old but he's only 30 he just has an old soul)

shinano, atou n reiji from cell of empireo (they're all in their 20s)

aikawa n kaiman dorohedoro (they're 28)

klaus von reinherz from kkss (he's 28)

kabane from kemono jihen

satori komeiji n flandre scarlet from touhou

jojo part 4 josuke n okuyasu

lain

i don't have a list of the best geezers but Do know that kaburagi t. kotetsu is high up there if not #1

[lgbtqmanga]

New Releases Feb. 21, 2023

Assorted Entanglements vol. 1 by Mikanuji

Discover a variety of stories about women's love, starting with Iori: twenty-eight-year-old office worker who sets out to drown her love and job sorrows in booze. When she wakes up next to someone, she can’t believe her partner was Minami, a worker at the bar who doesn’t want to forget what they have!

Bofuri: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, So I'll Max Out My Defense vol. 8 (novel) by Yuumikan, Koin

Maple's made it to the seventh stratum. Finally, monster taming's available on a grand scale, and the other Maple Tree members have begun the search for their own pets! As usual, Maple's gone off on her own to find a new skill. She’s eaten another monster…and this time she's got tentacles?!

Crossplay Love: Otaku x Punk vol. 3 by Tooru

The punk, Shuumei, and the otaku, Yuuma, fell for each other while crossdressed as cool beauty Mei and bubbly maid Hana, respectively. Things continue to spiral as Yuuma and his bestie Shimazaki try to help cure their normie friend Nakamura, who’s afraid of girls… because they keep falling in love with him! Though the otaku aren’t exactly sympathetic, Shimazaki offers to help him… by accidentally taking him to Roman, the cafe where Yuuma works as Hana! Will his bestie figure him out? What if Nakamura falls in love? Most importantly… where’s Mei?!

The Flower That Seems to Truly Dance by Saki Tsukahara

In 1941, Soutarou Kuramoto returns to Japan after years abroad with something on his mind. His closest childhood friend was a boy named Haroumi Asuma, who was famous for his traditional dances in women's clothing. Soutarou loved watching Haroumi dance, but after a fight one day, Soutarou told Haroumi: "I hate the way you dance." The two of them grew apart, and it has haunted him ever since. Soutarou is determined to finally apologize to Haroumi. With the threat of war looming over Japan, will their reunion finally bring Soutarou peace, or will it force him to confront his long-repressed feelings?

Futari Escape vol. 2 by Shouichi Taguchi

Kouhai is a mangaka living under the thumb of constant deadlines. All she wants is a little joy in her everyday life! Thankfully, Senpai has all the time in the world to help her embark on daily escapes from reality. Whether they’re going to extreme measures to make summer feel like winter, heading out on a late-night food run, or leaving all their decisions to fate, the two never fail to find creative ways to slack off. Kick back and disconnect from life with this adorable yuri comedy!

HIRAETH -The End of the Journey- vol. 3 by Yuhki Kamatani (digital only)

Mika, Hibino, and Hani are set to resume their journey, but time is not on their side, as Hani's corporeal form won't hold out much longer. But the god doesn't wish to pass into Yomi without remembering something long forgotten–something that only Hibino seems to remember. As the truth of their bond finally comes to light, Mika steels herself for the descent into Yomi and her long-awaited reunion with her departed friend, Mitsuha… Will the three travelers find what they each seek, here at the end of the journey?

Hirano and Kagiura (novel) by Shou Harusono and Kotoko Hachijo

Basketball players. Bad boys who aren’t really bad boys. Roommates. Senpai-kouhai BL romance. It all started when Kagiura moved into the school dorms with what seemed to be a bad boy upperclassman. But after he’s left in the tender care of his mother-hen of a roommate, Hirano, it’s too much to ask for Kagiura not to fall in love...right?!

From the author of Sasaki and Miyano comes the Hirano and Kagiura novel and its manga sequel, filled with answers to the questions Mya-chan never knew. Do they like-like each other? Are they dating? What juicy things do they get up to behind closed doors?!

I Think I Turned My Childhood Friend Into a Girl Manga vol. 2 by Azusa Banjo

When Hiura agreed to let his childhood friend, Kenshiro, practice applying makeup on him, both of their lives were turned upside-down. Kenshiro comes to terms with the fact that his longtime friend is the same person as ever, despite a dramatically different look. Meanwhile, the introverted Hiura deals with a sudden surge in popularity. Both are learning that beauty—and makeup—can be more than just skin deep.

Last Gender vol. 2 by Rei Taki

Ever felt as if there's no place for you in this world? BAR California. A secluded establishment where people of various genders, propensities, and sexual orientations gather in search of love, sex, and fulfillment. In this installment, Rei Taki tells the story of a young man who loses his same-sex partner to the harshness of society, a lithromantic woman who's scared of getting her feelings reciprocated, and a cross-dresser who has a secret she'll never share...

Run Away With Me, Girl vol. 2 by Battan

Momo has been reunited with her lost love Midori, but they're still nowhere near a fairy-tale ending. With Midori tangled in a rocky engagement and Momo still pining for Midori, are the two women destined to be apart, or will fate find a way to bring them back to each other? While Midori tries to convince herself she's happy in her relationship with Tazune, Maki tries to convince herself she's happy not being in a relationship at all. But when Maki's friend Komari invites them to her seaside home, the three women find themselves questioning how to be true to what's in their own hearts, and encourage each other to reach out for their own versions of happiness. As Komari sees the shine that comes from Midori and Maki when they're together, it seems to light a path she might follow herself. Will Komari be able to show them what she sees? And if Midori and Maki see it, too, will it change how they look at the world--and each other?

Sasaki and Miyano Manga vol. 7 by Shou Harusono

Sasaki and Miyano. Bad boy and BL nerd. Miyano finally took the plunge and told Sasaki exactly how he feels! But that’s only step one of any relationship. After all, now they have to actually make dating work. And with Sasaki’s graduation just around the corner, the challenges they face are only increasing! Can they make their own happily ever after?

SCRAMBLUES by mame march

Haru Kurosaki once heard a stranger's song in high school that made him decide to finally follow his passions. Now, he's a graphic designer who's recently been put in charge of designing a CD jacket for the prodigy musical artist Eddie Astley. On the outside, Eddie is intimidating and aloof — but when Haru spots him at a rock concert, he realizes how wrong that assumption is. As he sees beyond Eddie's surly exterior and catches a glimpse of the man beneath the affectation, Haru begins to think about the message and emotions that Eddie tries to convey through his music. And in trying to get to know more about Eddie for his design project, he discovers that music always has a way of transporting you to a vital moment from the past.

The Snake Who Loved a Sparrow by Nna Natsuo 

 Komazu is a sparrow, and as a sparrow, there’s one thing he knows about snakes: they eat small birds. When he encounters Shiratō, the white snake, of course he expects the worst — but instead of trying to eat him, Shiratō saves him from a boar stampede and flees, teary-eyed, when Komazu lashes out in fear. When the sparrow realizes he's perhaps misjudged snakes and decides to learn more about Shiratō, the two grow closer, first as friends and then as something more. They are predator and natural prey, coming from different species and social castes; can love overcome the laws of nature, despite the differences in their way? This book contains sexual content including nonhuman physiology, and is intended for an audience aged 18 years and up.

SOTUS vol. 1 by BitterSweet and Kei

SOTUS is an educational system in which upperclassmen impose “trials” upon underclassmen. Arthit, leader of the engineering seniors, plans to put his new juniors through a harsh training regimen to earn the symbol of their major—the gear. However, a first-year named Kongpob causes new headaches for Arthit when he declares he’ll snatch the gear from him: “I’ll make you my wife!”

[millepara]

waccha primagi episode 40 spoilers (so many)

RYUME HAS PANTS!! neat. I am actually wondering for the first time if her outfit is so similar to Myam’s bc they are both partners of primagistas? it doesn’t make a lot of sense considering Myamu’s outfit was like that before she was Matsuri’s partner, but I’m not sure that it matters if it makes sense (in a children’s anime). like Ryume is the only other partnered magic user we’ve seen a human form for, so atm that’s the only thing I know she has in common with Myamu... like what if Chimumu etc all have similar variations on that outfit is what I’m saying

+ given the furry bow/tail she has on her outfit, I now think her animal is a kirin and not a dragon? maybe I’m about to find out though

AH A NEW OP... unexpectedly soon. god I hope I like this one bc I have not liked the last two. fingers crossed

I like it better so far, which is something...

is Hughie officially working in Matsuri’s family’s candy workshop now. is Inoru going to team up with Truth? wow how does that happen... oh wow Matsuri’s patchwork coord. everyone’s there in it, huh. I don’t hate it tbh, it’s very Tokyo fashion student handmade streetwear, but tell me that’s not her actual Element coord

AH ok there’s like a heart-themed coord, that’s more like it. oh, and there they all are in the Heavens Rare recolor that was already previewed on the site for s6. I guess this pillar and garden area is supposed to be heaven? (just like aikatsu friends...)

lmao I barely listened to the song, I was too busy thinking abt the visuals. let me go back and....... uh, it’s my fav of the 3 for sure, but def keeping up the priseries op trend of me not liking them that much. oh well

hate how primagi keeps trying to make us care abt Achihiko. I don’t and I won’t

so Kaguya is Matsuri’s dad’s real last name. does that make her Kaguya Matsuri? where did Hibino come from.

YES Jennifer GET HER!! (kiss her)

having Auru here to figure all of Omega’s schemes out is such a relief, if it were left to the rest it would take weeks and be so frustrating to watch

has Matsuri STILL not told anyone abt the voice she keeps hearing telling her to save Jennifer? we’ve spent so much time with duo units that I forgot

this new song. holy shit...........

the sword!! can’t believe they choreographed a dance w a sword and that I am at some point going to be able to see my mychara doing it in the game!!!! I like the diamond cowgirl sun coord too mostly, though those feather starbursts tacked to her upper arms are weird

(Meganee and Auru’s matching glasses... cute)

SUPERVILLAIN ORIGIN EVENT..... I guess that’s why they all seem to be fighting her in the op. love & adore the new coord. didn’t know she could do that to the coord mates. so now no one has a coord and it seems to imply that no one can do primagi now? (except for maybe Auru? bc she doesn’t use magic?) are we going to have a bunch of eps w no performance now... impossible. so is that why Matsuri has a homemade coord? hmmm

Lux Aeterna... so that’s the name of my new fav song

wow, she really is getting the homemade coord in the next ep according to the preview!! I hope she gets a new song too.

....and. well. once again, the character with darker skin turns out to be the ‘evil’ one. I mean, it is like, she was so hurt by her father figure’s betrayal of her feelings that she no longer cared what terrible schemes he was using her for, and the Sun element used that as a chance to possess her, so it’s not actually Jennifer actively doing it or even wanting it or anything, but. hm. I really loved this ep a lot, just... why are we doing this again.

[petnews2day]

A Man & His Cat Volume 7 Review • Anime UK News

New Post has been published on https://petnews2day.com/pet-news/cat-news/a-man-his-cat-volume-7-review-anime-uk-news/

A Man & His Cat Volume 7 Review • Anime UK News

“I would like… to study piano with you.” Geoffroy Lambert to Fuyuki Kanda.

Fuyuki Kanda – retired concert pianist – has had his solitary widower’s life turned around since he became the owner of Fukumaru, an Exotic Shorthair cat and bundle of feline energy. Currently cat-sitting Marin as her owner, rival/friend pianist Hibino is on tour, Kanda is surprised to receive a phone call from another younger concert pianist, handsome Geoffroy Lambert who – up till now – has treated him with hostility and disdain. Kind-hearted Kanda agrees to Geoffroy’s request to study with him, although he is confused by this change in attitude and can only wonder what’s provoked it. Geoffroy is the son of yet another renowned concert pianist, Gustave Lambert who, although Kanda’s senior, has always held the Japanese musician in high esteem – and this might have caused the younger man’s strong feelings of resentment. (Or are they maybe admiration?) Geoffroy has convinced himself that the only way forward (and to win his father’s admiration) is to ‘become Kanda’.

After jetting in from Europe, Geoffroy is on his way – though the rain – to Kanda’s house when he hears a pitiful mewling sound and spots a cardboard box containing five tiny kittens. So when Kanda opens the door to Geoffroy, he sees that he has an armful of wet furry creatures just as Geoffroy blurts out, “Can these kittens stay here? I promise to adopt them!!” After a moment’s utter stupefaction, Kanda breaks into a big smile and says, “All will be well! You leave the kittens to me!”

Kanda has little time to stay surprised by the dramatic change in Geoffroy’s attitude as he’s concerned by the condition of the abandoned kittens and gets them to the vet’s without further delay, where the vet confirms that the fate of the tiniest and weakest one of the litter hangs in the balance.

When they’re back at Kanda’s house, however, the next issue to arise is how will Fukumaru (and Marin) react to the sudden arrival of these five little furry interlopers? Will Fukumaru tolerate the presence of strange cats invading his territory? And even though they’ve been rescued, who’s going to care for the kittens? If Geoffroy wants to keep them, he can’t send all five back to Europe together. Will he be able to find homes for them all in Japan?

Another warm-hearted volume of cat-themed chapters from Umi Sakurai confirms that her blend of human interest and pet-related stories still have the ability to stir the readers’ emotions – if anything, they’ve made us even more attached to kindly Mr Kanda and feisty Fukumaru. Some of the flashbacks are illuminating and affecting: Fuyuki Kanda asking himself what his late wife would have done; Geoffroy remembering how he could never bear the thought of having a pet and getting attached to it because it was going to die before him.

Sakurai’s insights into the lives of performing musicians – in this case spotlighting Geoffroy and how he perceives his relationship with his audiences – are also convincing and realistic. But above all, this is a volume that looks at the relationships between parents and their children; there’s a gulf between Geoffroy and his father – is there any way of bridging it?

On the feline side of the narrative, watching the older cats react to the sudden arrival of five kittens is amusing and touching as well. The 4-koma brief sketches that come at the end of most chapters continue to show snapshots of daily life with a cat in the most realistic way, including Fukumaru’s tendency to do a lot of noisy scritching in his litter tray at all hours of the day and night.

The translation for Square Enix Manga is again by Taylor Engel and, aided by Lys Blakeslee’s lettering, ably conveys all the different voices (feline as well as human). Volume 7 has four glossy colour pages, two at the front and two at the back. The mangaka’s afterword deals mostly with her reactions to the filming of the manga as a live-action TV drama and her excitement at meeting the actors and the pianist.

The volume ends with another unexpected arrival: a somewhat dishevelled and strange young woman. Who is she – and what does she want?

Read a free preview on the Square Enix Manga website here.

[prism-stone-planet]

Primagi upcoming episode summaries:

Episode 26 - Auru’s Research Paper on Eikichi! (April 17)

After deciding to observe Matsuri as a research subject, Auru asks to stay at Matsuri's house. Surprised, the Hibino family readily accepts, just as they did with Myamu. One day, while Matsuri is at school, Auru helps Matsuri's grandad, Eikichi, at his store. Seeking efficiency, Auru creates a website to sell candy online. Eikichi is impressed by the site. However, Eikichi continues to do things the way he has always done them. “Why?" Auru asks. Eikichi replies with a smile, "Because I want to see my customers' happy faces.” The next day, when Auru is unable to concentrate on Primagi for some reason, she remembers Eikichi's words.

Episode 27 - Destiny to be connected (April 24)

Myamu and the girls have seen the PriMagi performances of both Jennifer and Auru, who didn’t require the power of manamana (Magic). She begins to fear that Omega Corporation's technology will change Primagi in the near future. Hughie watches Myamu and the girls with concern. Hughie, who pretends to cooperate with Omega Corporation as a spy of the magical world, is also worried about the future relationship between Earthly (people who cannot use magic) and Treasured. Meanwhile, at Omega Corporation, Achihiko was staring at the video of "Primagi," where Matsuri had decided to advance to the exhibition.

Episode 28 - You are my precious one! Our Magi! (May 1)

The Omega Corporation targets Myamu. In order to protect her loved ones from the Omega Corporation's plans, Hughie decides to take drastic action, overcoming the reservations of Nyanji, the Magic User who raised Myamu. This was to protect the "original Primagi" that Treasured, who had saved him in the past, had taught him, when Earthly and Treasured lived hand in hand and helped each other. Hughie appears in front of Touma with a serious expression on his face. He says goodbye to the worried Touma and heads for the Omega Corporation. He also makes a big decision.

Episode 29 - Who will you pair with? Feeling Duo Tournament (May 8)

Matsuri was super excited to see the duo primagi performance of Touma and Hughie. “I want to form a duo too!” she thinks and invites the other Primagi stars to join her. As usual, everyone gathered at the Prism Stone Shop to decide who to form a duo with, and a "feeling duo tournament" was held at Hughie’s suggestion. And so ------ the battle for Amane broke out again. The battle started with Miruki's omission, followed by Matsuri's headlong appeal, and then Lemon’s watchful eye from a slightly backward position. Then there was Auru, who was indifferent, and Hina, who looked on with interest. Who will be Amane's duo partner?

[helpimstuckhere]

PART I

(apparently lmao i didn’t expect this to be as long as it became)

hello there human beings with good taste, been a while. i still wanna pour out content but i have no clue about what i can post lol plz interact with me i’m not creative. but leaving that aside for now

shall we start?

first off

yamato’s feelings

with his previous love interests yamato was not in complete control, but he felt safe with the amount he had. he couldn’t choose who he liked but he knew when and how to stop if he wanted. as a kid he was so scared of being found out by the school that he constantly hid his face behind long bangs. but yamato felt safe enough to tell nacchan, a stranger at the time, that he liked his best friend. making me think that he was more concerned about being found out than his relationship with mikeda. it was an amount he could control. an amount he was able to accept and move on. but since i want to focus on what we have in hand and that’s basically all of it when it comes to junior high years, i’ll stop here hand focus on kyousuke.

yamato’s feelings for kyousuke were simple. an unrequited love or a crush, if you will. the main reason behind his interest in kyousuke was, as he stated, him being open-minded. seeing love as love, rather it be between two man or a man and a woman. at the time, and even now that is what yamato needs to hear the most after all. that his feeling are valid and that what he feels is normal.

but other than kyosuke’s face and open-mindedness, he isn’t yamato’s type at all. for yamato, kyousuke is someone he likes to watch. he hates that he doesn’t do anything about it, but that’s the mechanism he created to protect himself. yamato did say his like was similar to kyousuke’s interest in models and idols. liking a person from afar and giving up when even the tiniest problem appears. what kyousuke said to yuiji afterwards explains it pretty well. if it was real love, it wouldn’t be that easy. after that yuiji wonders if it is the same for yamato. (smooth foreshadowing lol) that brings us to how yamato feels towards yuiji.

yamato loves until it starts hurting too much. when he likes someone, it isn’t to the point where he puts the other before him, at least from what we’ve seen. his focus is still on his own troubles and feelings. he knows his limits, he knows when to stop. he knows how to stop.

it isn’t like that with yuiji though, is it?

after all, he was able to tell nacchan, who he called shibata-san at the time, about his crush on mikeda. but right now forget telling her, who he trusts, he wouldn’t even dare accept the fact that he likes someone, let alone yuiji. not just in front of sakura but also within himself. yamato, who just wants to love normally, forces himself to be with hibino. crushing all his previous words and ignoring his own feeings and personality. whenever yuiji does something that would give yamato happiness if it were to happen in his previous relationships -like hugs and affection in general-, he feels despair. as hibino stated, he is more scared of yuiji figuring out his feelings and drifting apart than the school learning about him being gay.

i’d say yamato’s feelings slowly progressed from the start. but the breaking point that made yamato develop stronger emotions for yuiji, in my opinion, was the fight with d*i. until that point yuiji supported yamato while thinking he wasn’t able to relate to him. he believed the best he could do was to stay by his side and act like normal. landing his ear whenever yamato needed to be heard. but while punching d*i what yamato felt, he felt. he gives yamato the thing he needs the most, acceptance. after all a little hint of the same reason was enough to make yamato fall for kyousuke.

this is where hope comes in. on those swings, yamato silently thinking about yuiji’s happiness has roots he tries to bury as deep as possible, so he doesn’t have to face them. worry for the other party’s future. something he never felt for kyousuke, who he knew he had no chance with. he subconsciously already thinks there is a possibility. that maybe, just maybe if he confessed... he ignores that thought and goes further. even if they were in a relationship, what about yuiji’s future? establishing that he has a chance with yuiji, the possibility is already engraved in his mind. acceptence is easy to misunderstand, thinking there is even a tiny chance and getting hopeful is what turnes like into love. a stage that yamato maybe already reached, but cannot accept.

thus, he runs to hibino, or anyone for that matter. if he can’t stop these feelings from growing as he always does, he will make someone else stop them for him.

but what about yuiji?

yuiji’s feelings

in an ideal relationship yuiji needs communication. he expects the other party to explain their problems to be able to solve them. he doesn’t ask more than twice, and doesn’t like to be nosy. on the other hand mayu wants to be told that she is loved, she wants to be taken care of and she needs affection. but these are expectations. she doesn’t say these things until it’s too late for them to fix their relationship. just like yuiji.

the problem between the two is caused by the both of them and not just yuiji, even though he blames himsef throughout the whole thing. his brain doesn’t process mayu’s thoughts and concerns properly. and even when he’s explained at a later point, the love that would normally help him relate to her is now gone. he doesn’t understand what he is supposed to feel and even when she asks him, he isn’t even able to tell her he likes her until the very end.

this is going to be my interpretation from my own experiences so here we go. the way yuiji processes things is pretty easy to understand by the other party. he is okay with just about everything and will want to keep the relationship going as long as the other person is someone important to him. whenever something goes wrong, the moment he notices he will take responsibility so he can keep things as they are. he likes the normal and feels comfortable with the usual. even if he doesn’t agree with mayu’s opinions, and even if he finds the situation annoying, he will give in and try his best to fix it. he will do this while still speaking his mind, both to feel more like himself and because he thinks that it’s the proper way. but inside, he will also wish for the relationship to end, while hating what he’s doing. that’s because this is pretty out of character for yuiji, he doesn’t prefer himself to act that way. he wants to keep things as they are but at the same time he doesn’t want to be relied on to solve everything, he doesn’t like to think that if he says the wrong thing, the other party will end up leaving him. this makes him feel unimportant and plays into the guilt factor as well. yuiji ends up thinking he is the one at fault since the other person finds one simple reason enough to leave him.

the problem is the expectations that came with a romantic relationship. the first days of love aren’t forever, it gradually vanishes and friendship fills the void it leaves behind. what keeps the relationship going is that friendship and some affection shown by both of the partners. at the end of their time together, what mayu expected of him was genuine affection. but yuiji is a guy who is pretty true to himself. he won’t choose to lie to make the other party happy and try to be truthful, because that’s what he wants from the other as well. someone who is in love, like mayu in that situation, won’t have that kind of clear view on things. this kind of clarity will feel offensive, even. when she feels so complicated, he is able think with a calm mind, come up with reasonable explanations. but mayu doesn’t want reasoning, she wants love, which yuiji doesn’t have anymore. thus the relationship is doomed to end from the start.

it’s a different situation when it comes to yamato.

yuiji hates problems.

he hates that when everything can be fine, it isn’t. that’s the reason behind his unwillingness to be involved with yamato, but in later stages it also causes yuiji to be so involved that he feels nosy. if the problem doesn’t disappear by itself, he is willing to make it disappear. a seemingly blunt act but he does think in a complex manner. this is going to be reaching, maybe. but i wanted to include yamato, yuiji and kyousuke’s sleepover in the picture above for that reason. why am i sleeping between the two, was a question even yamato asked himself. at that time he still wasn’t clear about his feeings towards kyousuke. still, think about the yuiji that thought he would beat yamato up if he were to make a move on his best friend. the same yuiji is now willing to not just sleep next to yamato, but also let the said best friend do the same thing too. that’s yuiji’s way of showing his acceptance and trust, in my opinion. that’s the way he decides to solve things. i trust you, and i care for you. follow my example and do the same. the problem for yuiji isn’t the fact that people are prejudiced, it’s yamato’s lack of self love. he doesn’t expect the whole world to suddenly not be homophobic. rather he wants yamato to accept himself, because yuiji already did that.

up until this point, his behavior is within the limitations of a normal friendship. he isn’t the type to show, but he cares a lot. he is picky with the people around him and when he likes someone he gives his all. but there are times where he goes overboard when it comes to yamato. when kyousuke got a girlfriend, yuiji is happy for him, but a moment later he focuses on how yamato would feel about the situation immediately. when things aren’t going well with mayu, his phone keeps ringing and buzzing. he is still with yamato, helping him as much as possible even though he finds going to sakura’s unreasonable. when he punches d*i, no one thinks it is possible for him to do so. even himself. but in the end he beats d*i up either way.

he feels at ease with yamato because when he’s with him, yuiji’s own problems doesn’t matter. yamato’s troubles are at first, a coping mechanism for him. it helps yuiji get away from his own reality, and be able to have a nice time with a friend that he feels comfortable with. concerning himself with yamato’s problems so he doesn’t have to face his own. but with time, yamato’s issues become his as well. he absorbs those feelings. and unlike his relationship with mayu, he is able to relate to him to some degree. he takes yamato’s feelings seriously from the start like he should’ve done with mayu, but couldn’t. this is what makes him want to be there for yamato but feeling forced to do so when it’s mayu on the other side.

romantically, what i assume about yuiji’s feelings would be more like a headcanon so i thought to share it afterwards. all i can say is before yamato sat on that table with yuiji, he had no idea about how he felt towards him. that doesn’t mean he started liking him then and there. it was just at that point that he realized. in their situation, especially for a ‘straight’ guy like yuiji, it’s even harder for him to understand what he feels. yamato didn’t realize his emotions before because he thought having feelings for yuiji wasn’t possible. it’s even less possible in yuiji’s mind. but that said, this is true if we are to assume he even has feelings for yamato. in the end the route the manga will take depends on future situations. most likely, while yamato learns to love himself, yuiji will find the passion and love he lost within yamato as well.

that is the end of part I folks. i have a couple more pictures that i’ve prepared previously to add this post but it took waaay too long and i don’t really want to bore anyone. i also have some comic relief posts and a very wishfully thought out theory about yuiji’s feelings towards yamato. i’ll share them afterwards.

thank you so much for reading, and i wish you a great day. see you on part II! (hopefully lol)

[spinningwebsandtales]

Imagine Kafka Letting Slip How Much He Likes You

Kafka Hibino x FemReader

Warnings: None

Going through training to fight Kaiju was taking it’s toll on your body today as you limped to the mess hall. You could hear the ruckus of all the cadets from across the building. Normally you were up for laughing and carrying on with your fellow trainees but today you were just ready for some grub and then hopefully afterwords a much needed rest. It wasn’t until you walked through the doors did you find out what the uproar was about. A red faced Kafka Hibino was all the explanation you needed to know he was the butt of the joke and everyone was making fun of him. While Kafka seemed like a doofus who was wasting his time to everyone else, you genuinely liked him. He was funny and the way he was trying again after so many failures was endearing. You ignored the cackles and Kafka’s windy replies. You waited in line fighting a headache from the tense training that had happened today while everyone else carried on. You were secretly jealous that everyone seemed to have tons of energy while you were dragging. As you limped towards the closest table with a tray in hand you didn’t notice Kafka watching you with concern. When you sat down you felt relief but now you were worried you wouldn’t be able to get up again. Running on adrenaline had sapped all your strength and you didn’t know it until you sat down. Without a word Kafka got up from his seat and carried what remained of his tray towards you. He plopped down beside you giving you one of his famous grins.

“You doing alright,” he asked.

You nodded, “Yeah I’m doing fine. Training is just kicking my butt today.”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “Mine too.”

“It’s always kicking your butt Kafka!”

You laughed while the older man sputtered, though he couldn’t argue.

You ate your food while Kafka finished whatever was left on his tray. Normally he would inhale anything he got (being part Kaiju made his appetite jump off the scales) but just having you around gave him an excuse to eat slower. It wasn’t until the warning bell sounded that it was almost time to get back at it. Kafka had finished but you shoveled what was left in your mouth before rising to take your tray to the dish washer. As soon as you stood putting weight on your ankle it gave way leaving you to fall onto the unforgiving floor. Except you never hit the floor. A arm wrapped around your waist and set you back on your feet, though you kept your weight off your bad ankle.

“Yeah you need to go to the infirmary,” Kafka answered also taking your tray. He grimaced as Reno glared at the older man from across the mess hall but you didn’t notice as he helped you along. Awkward silence had settled between you two as you hobbled along with Kafka still by your side. You cleared your throat trying not to think about his close proximity and warmth.

“So for a guy who sucks so bad during training. You’re pretty strong there Kafka.”

He laughed awkwardly, “Guess I’ve been eating more veggies around here.”

“Sure I guess it’s been rough on a guy like you who’s probably spent most of his adult years running on pork rinds, cigarettes, and beer,” you laughed.

  “Hey I refrained myself from those things before joining the Defense Force thank you.”

“Sure sure,” you snorted. Kafka held open the infirmary door for you while you hobbled in.

“Kafka. (Y/N). What brings you into my neck of the woods,” the base doctor asked.

“She got injured during training, now she can’t put weight on her ankle,” Kafka explained while easing you onto the examination table.

“Okay we’ll see how bad it is. Thanks for bringing her Kafka, I can take it from here.”

Kafka shook his head, “I’d rather stay here to see how she is and then help her back into her room.”

“I think if I’m patched up I can head out for more training,” you spoke causing both men to shake their heads.

“I think it’ll be better for you to rest,” the doctor spoke. “I’ll send a letter for your superiors to explain your absence and to give you a little time to recover.” That’s what you didn’t want to hear but if you needed to heal completely then you would. The Defense Force wouldn’t like putting someone out on the battlefield that didn’t take care of themselves. It only put more people at risk.

With a patched up ankle and a Kafka once more acting as a crutch you both walked towards the barracks. Kafka seemed to be thinking about something but you shrugged it off. He had always seemed a little distant and you couldn’t figure out why, but you were thankful for him. You also thought his kindness and care endearing. Back at your room you entered in your number on the wall panel. Using the door frame as a brace you turned towards your hero.

“Thanks for your help today Kafka,” you grinned. “I think I’ll be just fine on my own now.”

“You’re welcome. I’m just glad it wasn’t serious. I’ll bring you some grub a little later,” he answered while his foot tapped nervously.

“Well thanks again you’re my hero Kafka.”

“(Y/N)?”

“Yeah?”

“I um…”

You waited before he bolted forward pulling you into his unyielding body. Though he was still careful about your injured ankle. He kissed the top of your head and you froze.

“Kafka?”

“I like you a lot and what you said made my walls come crumbling down. I’ve always wanted to be someone’s hero and it just makes it better that I’m yours,” he sighed before stiffening up again realizing what he just said and done. 

Now his confidence bled away replaced by a blush so red a cherry would be jealous. You laughed returning the embrace and kissing his scruffy chin, “I like you too Kafka. Now get back to training before you get yelled at some more.”

“Yes ma’am,” he let go saluting you sloppily. “Hey I’ll see you later?!”

“I look forward to it,” you spoke softly. Watching his retreating form you couldn’t help but think that there was more to Kafka Hibino then anyone realized.

[nyanja14]

Hiraeth wa Tabiji no Hate 05 - Impressions

The last chapter of the first volume! A quiet chapter this time, so hopefully my summary will actually be quick for once. (lol nevermind)

Summary, manga caps, and impressions below. As always, let me know if you want help purchasing a digital copy of this chapter to support Kamatani’s work!

Summary:

(content warning for ongoing suicide ideation, talk about past deaths/grief)

Mika flees from her startling confrontation with Kami last chapter, running to find Hibino so she can leave. She find him at a small shrine (?) (I believe the same one that we met Michino at in chapter 3 but I didn’t go back to check), and tells him that she didn’t know Kami could manipulate people’s death.

Hibino corrects her, saying that Kami doesn’t control death, only oversees it. Mika doesn’t like this, saying it’s wrong to just watch people die and be fine with it. Hibino acknowledges that Kami doesn’t have good intentions but states he also doesn’t have any bad intentions. He’s simply a god looking down on humans.

Mika asks Hibino about the notebook he carries. He says it’s for record-keeping and shows her his notation about Michino’s recent death. He writes down the names of the people he meets and is parted with through death, noting that when you are immortal, everyone you befriend dies eventually. He’s used to loss, but he still feels something when he loses people.

Mika is a bit surprised, since she had the impression that Hibino didn’t care one way or another like Kami. Hibino notes that he thinks of death as natural and inevitable, but even so he wants to ensure that peoples’ names don’t fade. That’s how he faces death.

Mika wonders if she’s the weird one for wanting to meet someone even if it kills her. But Hibino tells her he doesn’t think it’s weird. This is a breakthrough moment for Mika, and for the first time she tells him the name of the friend she lost: Mitsuha. 

She remembers a day that Mitsuha came to watch her practice for track. Mika says that Mitsuha should go home since her head was hurting, but she says watching Mika run makes her feel better. Looking back on it, Mika regrets not pushing for Mitsuha to go to the hospital.

Mika tells Hibino that everyone talks about today or tomorrow, but she wants yesterday. She feared that if said Mitsuha’s name, “yesterday” would fade away. Now though...for the first time, she weeps in front of other people, wholeheartedly, repeating Mitsuha’s name.

Exhausted, she collapses, Kami appearing just in time to catch her. Hibino notes that she hasn’t slept in a while, not since “yesterday.”

Later, Mika reflects that she doesn’t know what the answer is, but she needs to figure it out on her own, so she’s continuing on the journey. She writes a postcard to her mother, saying that she’s staying with a sempai from track and not to worry.

Hibino says there is a wake for Michino tonight, but Mika is not ready to face it. So they all depart. Hibino and Mika are wearing the beadwork brooches they received from Michino; Kami doesn’t really get the reasoning behind doing so and isn’t wearing his.

Mika declares that she is going to call Kami “Hani” from now on (the nickname Michino tried to give him in chapter 4* and he rejected.) Hani agrees that it’s fine, since he wants to get along with Mika.

*from hanitsuchi, a clod of dirt and the word Kami used when he said he will return to the earth

As they depart, a flock of birds take flight and form into a dragon, a local deity that Hani visited, come to see them off. Hani spells his beadwork brooch to take flight and join the dragon.

Meanwhile, a woman (with a dog!) is on the phone; she says she is about to start her fieldwork on the topic of “Are the legends of immortality real?”

Impressions:

This was mostly a wrap up chapter, but the things that stand out:

1) I wondered before what it would take for Mika’s “everything’s fine!” facade to collapse in front of the others, and here it is.

2) The mystery of Hibino’s notebook revealed! It feels a bit like Kamatani is circling back to the ideas they expressed in Nabari no Ou about immortality but with a new outlook.

3) I’m still wondering whether Mitsuha was aware or not about the possibility of dying soon. This chapter made it seem more like she died suddenly/unexpectedly from some manner of physical illness (stroke? brain aneurysm?) but prior memories of her indicated a preoccupation with life after death...

4) Hani joins the ranks of Kamatani characters with acquired names. (Think: Yoite, Someone-san.) I’m interested to see how this plays out, especially since this chapter put an emphasis on speaking people’s names.

5) Still wondering whether Mika’s mom will actually show up in the story.

6) Mysterious new lady??? Who is some sort of...researcher? Author? IDK. I wonder if she has a prior connection with Hibino or has heard about him somehow. Her dog is cute.

And that’s volume 1! It goes on sale in late April, so I’m looking forward to the unveiling of the cover art in the coming weeks. I’ll be ordering it, but I really hope this series gets licensed for an English release!

PREVIOUS CHAPTER 

[sonicasura]

Someone needs to dump Kaiju No 8's Kafka Hibino into Attack On Titan so we can watch everything combust. A 32 year old himbo with the ability to turn into a powerful 8 ft tall kaiju would just shred established canon to pieces. Titans don't really scare him as his entire world has to deal with giant monster attacks on a daily basis.

Hell Kafka used to work at a job that cleans up kaiju corpses and send samples for companies to reverse engineer. The Defense Force is just an advanced less corrupt version of the military when you compare their respective canon. Kafka would immediately call bullshit on everyone's shady behavior.

Titans were once humans? Kafka just puts them out of their misery as it's pretty clear their original personality is gone. Also congrats Eren on your new babysitter! Seriously, Kafka ain't going to let a clearly unstable young man with superpowers be left to his own devices.

He definitely would drag Eren to therapy as his vengeful mindset will be detrimental to everyone. Kicking and screaming from him are guaranteed but that ain't stopping Kafka. He already has work cut out for him just by avoiding Hanji.

[dorminchu]

taggd by @titan-wolfdog, thanks!

last song: Strut C Dining Hall - Metal Gear Solid 2, by Norihiko Hibino & Harry Gregson-Williams

last movie: Out of the Past (1947).

currently watching: My computer monitor.

currently reading: Maintaining a delicate balance between The Godfather and 1984.

tagging: @watermelonoperator @gortys-and-loaderbot @ember-of-sin @crewman-penelope and anyone else who wants to give it a whirl.

[orlha]

Title: Haru no Tani (A Valley of Haruno) Fandom: Naruto Genre: Family Characters: Haruno Sakura Triggers(s): – Rating: G Additional Tags: AU Summary: Where the Haruno Clan does have a kekkei genkai, except it's a useless one and everyone forgets it exists, until it becomes relevant.

AO3

Sakura had grown up with lessons that she was a Haruno, Harunos are the trees and the earth and that Harunos never married out.   

Contrary to Konoha’s belief, the Harunos did have a kekkai genkai. It just wasn’t useful in battle and in the days of the old, the Harunos were revered. They fertilized the earth when they died, blooming into pastures and trees, orchards heavy with fruits. Vegetation that would continue to bloom and grow decades even after their deaths. 

Now with the event of chakra and jutsu, the need and reverence for a person’s death had been significantly diminished.  Why feed and wait for a person to age and die when you could pay a shinobi to do the same regularly? 

So the Harunos adapted. 

Instead, they bought a large plot of land and when they died, they would plant their bodies there, fertilizing the land and selling fruits and vegetables from it. 

The Harunos became simple merchants. 

The day Sakura insisted on becoming a shinobi, was the day she had a tattoo inked onto the small of her back. 

History had largely forgotten them and the Harunos wanted it to stay it that way. As long as no one released her seal, she would not turn into earth when she died. That was their own requirement. 

Of course, all that changed when the Chuunin Exams happened. 

It was assumed that the Harunos had been forgotten. The Suna clearly did not. 

✥.✥.✥ 

“Let go off the boy,” Sakura growls at the strange kabuki painted boy. 

“Ha— Haruno?!” the boy splutters.  

“I apologise on my brother’s behalf if the kid was one of yours Haruno-sama,” the blonde girl with twin pigtails says nervously. “Kankuro!” she hisses at her brother and he quickly sets Konohamaru onto the floor. 

“So— so sorry for this!” Kankuro stammers, bowing as his sister drags him away. 

“I didn’t know you were a big shot,” Sasuke says when the two siblings vanish from sight. 

“Ah—” 

I didn’t know either, was what Sakura really wanted to say. Also, she would definitely need to report this to the clan elders. 

✥.✥.✥ 

In retrospect, as a shinobi, Sakura should have planned for eventualities where she would be interesting to other shinobis.  

Sakura’s a Haruno. Harunos are considered civilian in the fire country region. There is literally no one who would kidnap them for any reason — maybe except for that merchant clan in Iron. 

So when she found herself on the back of a Suna shinobi, Sakura is completely embarrassed by her first reactions. She did not act like a genin or even as shinobi in training.  

She had, instead, screamed “Pervert!”  

Sakura states several times in her report later, that it had been a reaction to someone grabbing her butt and legs. Kakashi-sensei later ups her evasion training.  

Kakashi-sensei is also confused why a Suna-nin would attempt to kidnap his civilian student. Neither Kakashi nor Sakura realises until much later when Gaara becomes the Kazekage that Harunos are a legend there, thought to have died out in the warring era. 

The Harunos are worshipped in Suna. 

✥.✥.✥ 

“Why are you worshipped?” Shikamaru asks Sakura months after Temari had revealed the Haruno religion in Suna. ‘You’re civilians,’ he doesn’t say. He can’t figure out why and neither Temari nor Kankuro would say why. 

“Would you like to see why?” Sakura says as she moves her gold general across the board.  

He nods and counters her move. “Tsumi.” 

Sakura had been lasting longer against him. With more practice, she might even become as good as a Nara. 

“Next week, Thursday. Wear something formal and come over at four pm. Don’t be late.” 

The requirement of wearing something formal is ominous enough to rope Ino into joining him. Shikamaru knows with the right buttons, Ino would be curious enough and he is right. 

“What kind of situation would we even need formalwear anyway?” Ino grumbles the entire way to the Haruno compound.  

They arrive precisely at four on Thursday. Both dressed in their formal black kimonos. Sakura definitely not wearing formal black kimono, instead she, her aunt and probably nephew are all wearing bright red qipao. 

Sakura rises from her seiza, giving them a formal bow as the little boy ushers them in, fetching their geta and offering guest slippers.  

“Nara Shikamaru, heir to the Nara Clan, Yamanaka Ino, heir to the Yamanaka Clan, Haruno Sakura, heir to the Haruno Clan greets you. You are welcomed here,” Sakura greets.  

They stiffen. Shikamaru had never known Sakura was a clan heir. It’s likely because the Harunos were… are… civilians?  

Shikamaru is actually not sure anymore. There has to be a reason why a whole village would worship them and attempt to negotiate the Harunos setting up a branch in Suna during the diplomatic meetings. 

“What is going on?” Ino hisses to Sakura when they are alone in the hallway. 

“Shikamaru asked to see why we’re worshipped. It so happens that there’s a funeral today.” 

What has a funeral have to do with being worshipped? 

“A funeral? I didn’t ask to go to a funeral.” Ino eyes Sakura’s bright red qipao then glances at the other Haruno’s funeral red qiapo. 

Ino is tactful enough to not ask why anyone would wear red to a funeral, instead follows Sakura silently down the hallways.  

“Please do not make a sound and fidget during the service,” Sakura whispers when they reach the door to the courtyard. 

Ino scoffs. “We’re clan heirs. Of course, we know not to.” 

Motioning to another little boy, Sakura pushes the boy forward. “This is Hibino. If you need anything, you can ask him. These two are Nara Shikamaru, heir to the Nara Clan, Yamanaka Ino, heir to the Yamanaka Clan. Take care of them, Hibino-kun.” 

The pink haired boy grumbles under his breath but plasters a service smile. “Haruno Hibino, second in line at your service.”  

Sakura’s words are oddly specific that Shikamaru wonders if he’s overthinking it. 

Hibino shows them to seats on the engawa. “When the procession starts, you can follow behind me. Please remain silent.” 

“We’re clan heirs too,” Ino mutters indignantly. 

Shikamaru can’t help but feel a shudder. Likely because the sun is setting. Not because of the shadows in the forest, or how wild the Haruno forest looks.  

The Nara forest has all these too. 

Sakura is upfront next to a woman wearing white at the end of the pathway. The Harunos stand along the path, holding up tiny lamps. A man wearing white carries an old woman, with blanket folded around her, in his arms steps onto the path.  

There is no sound. Not even the sound of the birds roosting as the sun sets. Not even the sound of the leaves. 

The man takes the lead, followed the Sakura and the woman in white, Shikamaru and Ino are near the last to follow.  

The forest is dim enough that Shikamaru has to circulate chakra in his eyes to see the path before him and he wonders how the other Harunos don’t seem to have a problem. They walk far into the forest, until they hit a clearing when the man places the old woman in the middle. Sakura bites her forefinger and crouches next to the old woman, drawing symbols on the woman’s face. 

“Bloom,” the woman in white says. 

“Bloom,” the Harunos chorus. 

“Into the Spring coursing through our veins.”  

Sakura stands next to the woman in white, just over the old woman.  

“Grow,” the woman in white says. 

“Grow!” the Haruno chorus, this time louder. 

“Into the fruits and trees that we partake.” The woman in white holds her arms up and the Harunos roar as Sakura presses her hands into a tiger seal. The blood on the old woman glows briefly. 

“FLY!” They scream.  

There’s a heavy silence, a pause that Shikamaru idly muses if he had just witnessed a sacrificial rite. Then a shuddering, an explosion of branches and leaves, trees and earth exploding from the old woman around them.  

Ino claps her hands over her mouth, muffling her shriek. 

The clearing turns into an overgrown forest, the dirt becomes grass, the sprouts become the trees, the trees grow fruits and dip their branches. 

All in a span of minutes.  

Almost like watching Yamato using mokuton, except these are civilians, people that shouldn’t have a kekkai genkai.  What is a civilian clan with a kekkai genkai called? Is a civilian with kekkai genkai even a civilian?  

Shikamaru watches all these and realises with horrifying clarity that even in the shinobi world, a clan with the ability to sprout fruits and trees in a matter of minutes is irreplaceable.  

How has no one wondered how the Haruno sells fruits even in the dead of winter? 

Shikamaru goes home with more questions than answers.  

✥.✥.✥ 

Sakura punches the clones into submission. How dare this Pein person attack Konoha. She punches the puppet through the wall but it still gets up.  

It’s likely that she will die today, Sakura realises. Thank the sage for the seal her clan head had forced onto her when she insisted on becoming a shinobi. At least she won’t accidentally turn land into a forest when she dies, or at least not without another Haruno’s chakra. 

Then a meteor crashes into Konoha. 

Sakura holds onto her conscious long enough to see the broken buildings transform into a valley of Sakura trees and thinks that soon she’ll join them. 

Except she doesn’t die. Not permanently that is. 

Sakura wakes up to a crater of what was once Konoha but now trees and to the knowledge that Pein had resurrected all the people who died in his attack, except the Harunos. Not the Harunos, because they had a kekkai genkai that activated when they die, converting them bodies into earth. 

If there was no body, there is no way Pein could have converted them back. 

Sakura becomes the last Haruno, the only person in a village full of people that day, to shed tears of sorrow instead of tears of relief and joy. 

[tinycartridge]

Tiny Cartridge's Holiday 2017 Gift Guide ⊟ 

We picked out gifts we’d give to people we love (like you)! 

Gifts we’d give to Switch owners

Puyo Puyo Tetris - It’s a great Tetris game, a great Puyo Puyo trainer, and a weirdly enjoyable story.

Waterfield CitySlicker Case - An elegantly designed, perfectly protective case. It’s a top-shelf pouch with a top-shelf price, offering a cowhide leather flap and microsuede lining.

Palisade’s Waxed Canvas Carrying Case - Available in green and blue, this case isn’t quite as nice as the CitySlicker, but it’s a quarter of the price and will keep consoles warm during these winter months with its flannel interior.

Switch Arcade Cabinet - This DIY project turns Switches into a tiny arcade machine! And it can be extended with DIY joystick controls, or not.

Gifts we’d give to Nintendo 3DS and 2DS owners

SNES Edition New Nintendo 3DS XL - While it’s not a Super NES Classic Edition, it looks just as slick, and you can actually buy this one from a store. It also comes with a digital code for Super Mario Kart for the SNES.

Poke Ball Edition New Nintendo 2DS XL - It looks just like a Poke Ball, and the lid has a button you can press – two good excuses for why someone would want yet another 3DS/2DS system.

amCase Soft Sleeve 3DS XL Carrying Case - This low-key gray case is  a great and cheap solution for adults wanting to carry this child-proof system around with them.

River City Rival Showdown - Two years in a row, we have a new Kunio game to recommend. Hell yeah. This River City Ransom remake even comes with a limited edition Kunio keychain.

Gifts we’d give to PS Vita owners

Axiom Verge Multiverse Edition - The deluxe edition of the one-man Metroidvania (includes the game, a double-sided poster, an art booklet, and a making-of documentary).

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony - Give the gift of once again being trapped with other high schoolers and forced to kill each other to escape.

Ys VIII Lacrimosa of DANA - If you don’t play this, Dana will cry.

PlayStation TV Display Stand Dock - Maybe all people need to start using their PlayStation TVs again is a dock to help it stand tall and imitate higher-end consoles. Give PS TV owners a reason to prop the micro console up next to their other systems.

Toys and amiibo we’d give to fellow men and women of culture

Breath of the Wild Link deluxe Nendoroid - It comes with a little horsey for Link and other Nendoroids to ride! There’s also a cheaper, non-horsey version with enough accessories to take down the toughest Test of Strength shrines.

Dragon Quest Slime pocket watch - L M A O

Max Factory Goro Majima figma action figure - Maybe you could sew a little shirt for him.

Amiibo diorama kits - Imported Smash Bros., Monster Hunter Stories, Kirby, Splatoon, playgrounds for amiibos.

Clothes we’d give to improve people’s wardrobes

Sonic the Hedgehog sneakers - I’m sure these would look great even on a fully clothed human.

Breath of the Wild scarf - A sick scarf inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s blue Hyrule Champion tunic. Check out Tony’s Splatoon Gear Brand stickers too!

Bowser Revolution - Another unlicensed piece, but we have no choice but to endorse a t-shirt featuring a Mario Party Bowser silhouette demanding equality.

Neo Geo Bigger Badder Better Long-Sleeve Tee - A must-cop for hypebeasts wanting to wear a hype beast, designed by Nina Matsumoto and Tony Kuchar. Comes with a matching pin!

Books we’d give to bring joy to people’s lives

I’m Stuck in a Video Game - A lovely story about a young girl being zapped into her favorite game, written by Game Center CX producer/narrator Tsuyoshi Kan and illustrated/translated by Nina Matsumoto.

The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up: A Magical Story - Help someone clean up a messy home and life with Marie Kondo. For those who had trouble with her original book, this manga edition makes Ms. Kondo’s tidying lessons more accessible with a cute story about a young professional trying to get her life together.

Delicious in Dungeon - For people who have always wanted the cooking segments of dungeon crawlers turned into a manga entirely about a party of adventurerers cooking recipes out of monsters.

Peow Comics - Everything this publisher puts out is flames, whether it’s detective stories, chronicles of a war between wizards, or a crossover between Yuri on Ice and Evangelion.

Music we’d give to people who haven’t asked us to stop giving them music as gifts

Django - The first original album release by Chip Tanaka, the incredible chiptune alter ego of Nintendo’s best game composer/Creatures Inc. president Hirokazu “Hip” Tanaka. His CD includes a thank-you letter from Chip Tanaka (and secret track download code).

Three Movements (releases December 17) - Mega Man composer Manami Matsumae is also releasing her first-ever solo album, promising songs that cross “chiptunes with everything from classical piano and SNES-inspired beats to melodically vague soundscapes and orchestral numbers.”

Prescription for Sleep: Fight for Your Dreams - Iconic game music turned into jazzy lullabies to sleep, relax, and study to. The arrangements are put together and performed by Gentle Love – Norihiko Hibino (composer of Metal Gear Solid and Bayonetta) on saxophone and AYAKI (performer on Etrian Odyssey and PersonaQ) on piano.

Everybody Works - Dream-pop tracks from Oakland-based artist Jay Som / Melissa Duterte. Just a tender, warm album Eric has been getting into lately.

Gifts we’d give to people who would listen to a podcast about grocery shopping

Club Tiny membership: What could be a better gift than entry in an exclusive, positive community of handheld game enthusiasts? Don’t think too much on that question. You’ll not only get our exclusive Grocery/Slice-of-Life podcast, but access to our Discord, a free Tiny enamel pin, and more!

Kiriko Tote Bags - We’re in love with this Portland shop’s patterns, but their simple, chic denim totes are perfect for carrying a basket’s worth of groceries home (we’re using their large chambray bag with Kiriko’s logo).

Click & Grow aerogardens - Grow herbs and/or vegetables at home with these indoor gardening kits. They’re self-watering and use plant cartridges!

Seapoint Farms Dry-Roasted Edamame - An unexpected perfect protein-packed snack. It’s nutty but safe for people with nut allergies!

Charities we’d donate to in someone’s name like that Seinfeld episode except they’re real organizations that will put your money to good use

ACLU donation - The gift of continued protection for our rights.

Animal Welfare Institute - Help reduce animal suffering caused by people.

Flint water donation - I can’t believe this is still necessary, but it is.

The Trevor Project - Help LGBTQ kids when they need it.

If we’ve missed any must-have gifts, let us know!

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