#when he’s consistently scoring and making his presence known

[hischiersjohnston]

the fact that people are still ragging on willy for the migraines and sitting out of the first two or three games, when it was already said he got ocular migraines (aka the man CANNOT SEE AND WAS LOSING VISION) like?? and then he proceeds to be the reason why the leafs even forced a game 7 ??

[danceofthephilos]

Thus Fate Knocks at the Door - Adam, Eve, and Beethoven's 5th Symphony

SK8 as a series almost exclusively utilizes its (excellent) bespoke soundtrack for its music, but there are a few conspicuous exceptions, all to do with Adam. Specifically, there are two notable scenes in episodes 1 and 5 that make use of Beethoven's 5th Symphony—as music that he is, in-universe, listening and humming along to as he watches Langa skate for the first time, and as the score to the scene where he first declares Langa his "Eve."

This isn't an arbitrary choice of a famous piece of classical music, but representative of a consistent theme in Adam's characterization, especially in regards to his feelings toward Langa: his preoccupation with fate and the idea that they were destined to be together.

One doesn't have to look very far to draw a connection between this and Beethoven's 5th Symphony; there are a variety of unconfirmed stories about the origin of the famous four-note motif at the beginning of the piece, but the most famous comes from an account by Beethoven's secretary, Anton Schindler.

The composer himself provided the key to these depths when one day, in this author's presence, he pointed to the beginning of the first movement and expressed in these words the fundamental idea of his work: "Thus Fate knocks at the door!"

Schindler's writings on Beethoven after his death are... unreliable, to say the least, with many of his stories about the composer known to be outright fabricated, so it's very likely that this story is apocryphal. Nonetheless, it's one that's ingrained in public consciousness, and the influence of this particular account is especially obvious in Japan, where the whole symphony is known by the title "運命", or "Fate". It could even be said to be better known by this title than just its real name; if you search "交響曲第5番" on Youtube, Spotify, or even look at Japanese CD jackets, it is invariably referred to as 運命.

運命 is a word Adam himself uses in the show, in the preview at the end of episode 4, translated here as "destiny":

This concept of fate/destiny is one that permeates Adam's entire search for "Eve"—a desire to find someone "just for him", as he puts it in the flashback in episode 8.

The title for episode 8 itself refers to fate, albeit with the word 宿命 rather than 運命—with the title first being shown over the shot revealing the "fated tournament" in question being named "White Eden Wedding Beef".

There's a bit of nuance to 宿命 and 運命—strictly speaking, 運命 refers to fate that can change in one's lifetime, while 宿命 refers to fate set in stone before one is even born. Regardless, they're near-synonymous; the tournament named for the Garden of Eden, that Adam holds for the specific purpose of skating with Langa again, is called fated.

Both words for fate/destiny also appear in the lyrics to the Japanese version of Behind the Mask:

The boundary line of fate, an unseen answer To that unfulfilled love Gotta feel it, the never-ending thrill

Sparks spread high Let's go to the depths of the colored rainbow and speed Yes, now, dancing in the midst of destiny I devote my love

The first uses 宿命, while the second uses 運命 (though pronounced "sadame" rather than "unmei" as it usually is here; this is a common enough affectation in lyrics, though さだめ does typically have the same implication of totally fixed fate as 宿命.) The first chorus also has the same line about "dancing in the midst of destiny" in it, but I chose this one for the fact that the direct reference to the Zone ("the depths of the colored rainbow") makes clearest that this version of the song, presented as being sung by Adam, is also directed at Langa.

Even the Chill Out! manga, lighthearted as the comics are, zero in on this fixation on fate/destiny in two different comics showing Adam's inner thoughts.

There's Line∞6, where, in his daydreams, Adam imagines Langa saying "この気持ち… もしかして愛抱夢が… 俺の運命のアダム…?" ("This feeling... Could Adam be... my destined Adam...?", using katakana for the biblical Adam to distinguish from Adam's S name in kanji), as though Langa has been searching for "his Adam" in the same way:

And Line∞8, where Adam refers to himself as Langa's "運命の伴侶"—soulmate, or literally "destined partner":

So it's this throughline, specifically in regards to Langa, that's reflected in the choice of music in episodes 1 and 5. The very first time he lays eyes on Langa, and when his heart is really set on Langa being his Eve—his "destined partner"—Adam truly does believe it's fate that they met, and the crew chose a song with such a heavy link to fate to represent his state of mind.

[imranparekh]

Cricket Icons: Unforgettable Tales of the Greatest Players

Cricket is more than just a sport; it celebrates passion, skill, and perseverance. Over the years, many players have risen to legendary status, leaving an indelible mark on the game and inspiring millions worldwide. These cricketers have achieved remarkable success and set new benchmarks that continue to influence upcoming generations.

From perfect batting strokes to mesmerizing bowling, the following stories offer glimpses into the lives of cricket's greatest legends, capturing the essence of their remarkable careers.

Sir Don Bradman: The Unmatched Genius

Sir Don Bradman, often regarded as the greatest batsman of all time, set the bar for future cricketers with his extraordinary consistency and impeccable technique. Born in Australia in 1908, Bradman's career was exceptional. He amassed a staggering 6,996 runs in Test cricket at an average of 99.94, a record that still stands today and is unlikely to be surpassed. His elegance at the crease and ability to read bowlers made him a nightmare for opponents.

Bradman's rise to fame was a story of dedication and hard work. His discipline in practice—famously honing his skills by hitting a golf ball with a cricket stump against a water tank—helped him become the player he was. Beyond statistics, Bradman's influence on the game remains profound, as his sportsmanship and commitment inspire cricketers worldwide.

Sachin Tendulkar: The Master Blaster

Sachin Tendulkar is a name synonymous with cricket in India and beyond. Known as the "Master Blaster," Tendulkar's career spanned over two decades, making him one of the most enduring figures in cricket. Born in Mumbai in 1973, Tendulkar's journey began at 16 when he debuted for India. By the time he retired, he had amassed over 34,000 runs in international cricket, cementing his place as one of the greatest ever to play.

Tendulkar's consistency across all formats of the game set him apart. His ability to adapt to different conditions and bowlers was extraordinary, and his longevity in the sport made him a role model for young cricketers. Tendulkar's century of centuries in international cricket remains a record, and his calm demeanor under pressure made him a beloved figure not just in India but worldwide.

Sir Viv Richards: The Swaggering King

During his cricketing career, Sir Viv Richards was a force to be reckoned with. Born in Antigua in 1952, Richards represented the West Indies with a blend of aggressive batting and striking style that few could match. He played a key role in making the West Indies the most dominant team in world cricket during the 1970s and 1980s. Richards' power-hitting and confident attitude made him a crowd favorite and a fearsome opponent.

Viv Richards was known for his fearlessness. Whether facing pace or spin, Richards had the unique ability to dictate terms to the bowlers, often unsettling them with his sheer presence at the crease. His strike rate in Test and One-Day Internationals (ODIs) was phenomenal for his era, as he consistently scored runs rapidly. His impact extended beyond the cricket field, as Richards became an icon for Caribbean pride and excellence.

Shane Warne: The Magician of Spin

Shane Warne, one of the greatest leg-spinners the world has ever seen, revolutionized the art of spin bowling. Born in Australia in 1969, Warne's entrance into the cricketing scene changed the dynamics of bowling. At a time when fast bowlers dominated, Warne's ability to deceive batters with turn and variation brought spin bowling back into the spotlight. His 708 Test wickets are a testament to his mastery of the craft.

Warne's career was filled with memorable moments, but none more iconic than the "Ball of the Century" in 1993 when he bowled England's Mike Gatting with a stunning leg break. His on-field success was complemented by his larger-than-life personality, making him a global cricketing superstar. Beyond his records, Warne's impact on the sport is seen in the resurgence of leg-spin bowlers who look up to him as an inspiration.

Brian Lara: The Elegant Stroke Master

Brian Lara, hailing from Trinidad and Tobago, was another West Indian cricket great whose batting style was defined by elegance and flair. Born in 1969, Lara's batting record is studded with monumental achievements, including the highest individual score in Test cricket (400 not out) and first-class cricket (501 not out). Lara's ability to build mammoth innings made him a vital asset for the West Indies team, particularly when they struggled to regain their former glory.

What made Lara special was his natural ability to time the ball and play strokes that were both technically perfect and aesthetically beautiful. Whether facing the world's best pace attacks or spinners, Lara had an innate ability to dominate bowlers with his trademark cover drives and hooks. His records define his legacy in cricket and the joy and elegance he brought to batting, making him one of the most revered players of all time.

Jacques Kallis: The Perfect All-Rounder

Jacques Kallis is widely regarded as the best all-rounder in cricket history. Born in South Africa in 1975, Kallis had the rare ability to excel both with the bat and the ball, making him an indispensable asset for his team. He scored over 10,000 runs in Test and ODI cricket while also taking more than 250 wickets in both formats, a feat unmatched by any other player in the game.

Kallis was known for his rock-solid batting technique and his versatility as a bowler. He could adapt his style to suit any situation, whether the team needed quick runs or a solid defensive effort. His contributions to South African cricket are immense, as he played a significant role in elevating the team to one of the top-ranking sides in the world during his career. Beyond his numbers, Kallis' calm and composed approach to the game made him a respected figure across the cricketing fraternity.

Cricket has been graced by many legends who have shaped the game in unique and extraordinary ways. These players not only set records but also defined eras in cricket history. Their contributions transcend statistics and have inspired generations of fans and players alike. These legends have left an indelible mark, ensuring their stories will be told for years.

[ozzyscollectiblehub]

Elvin Hayes: The Big E — A Powerhouse of Basketball History

Elvin Hayes, known to many as “The Big E,” is a name that resonates with basketball fans and historians alike. His impact on the game is undeniable, with a career that spanned 16 seasons in the NBA and left an indelible mark on the sport. From his collegiate dominance to his storied professional career, Hayes exemplified power, skill, and a relentless work ethic that made him one of the greatest power forwards in basketball history.

Early Life and Collegiate Dominance

Born on November 17, 1945, in Rayville, Louisiana, Elvin Ernest Hayes grew up in a time when basketball was rapidly gaining popularity across the United States. Despite his early struggles with the game, Hayes developed a passion for basketball that would shape his future. By the time he reached high school, he had grown into a formidable player, leading his team to a state championship and catching the attention of college scouts.

Hayes chose to play college basketball at the University of Houston, where he quickly became a standout star. Under the guidance of coach Guy Lewis, Hayes transformed into one of the most dominant players in college basketball history. His most famous collegiate performance came on January 20, 1968, when he led the Houston Cougars to an upset victory over the UCLA Bruins in what is often referred to as the “Game of the Century.” This matchup, played at the Astrodome in Houston, was the first nationally televised regular-season college basketball game and drew over 52,000 fans. Hayes outplayed UCLA’s Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), scoring 39 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, cementing his place in basketball lore.

During his time at Houston, Hayes averaged 31.0 points and 17.2 rebounds per game, and he finished his collegiate career as the all-time leading scorer in school history. His dominance on the court earned him All-American honors and set the stage for his entrance into the NBA.

NBA Career and The Big E’s Dominance

Elvin Hayes was selected as the first overall pick in the 1968 NBA Draft by the San Diego Rockets (later relocated and renamed the Houston Rockets). He wasted no time making an impact in the NBA, leading the league in scoring during his rookie season with an average of 28.4 points per game — a rare feat for a first-year player. This performance earned him the NBA Rookie of the Year award and established him as one of the league’s premier players.

Hayes was known for his powerful presence in the paint, using his 6'9" frame and athleticism to dominate opponents. His patented turnaround jump shot, combined with his tenacious rebounding, made him a nightmare for defenders. Hayes was also a formidable shot-blocker, consistently ranking among the league leaders in blocks.

In 1972, Hayes was traded to the Baltimore Bullets (who would later become the Washington Bullets), where he would spend the majority of his career. It was with the Bullets that Hayes truly flourished, forming a dynamic frontcourt duo with Wes Unseld. The combination of Hayes’ scoring and rebounding prowess with Unseld’s passing and leadership abilities made the Bullets one of the top teams in the NBA during the 1970s.

The pinnacle of Hayes’ career came in 1978 when he led the Washington Bullets to the NBA championship. In a hard-fought seven-game series against the Seattle SuperSonics, Hayes was instrumental in securing the title, averaging 21.8 points and 11.9 rebounds per game throughout the playoffs. This championship victory was the crowning achievement of Hayes’ career and solidified his legacy as one of the game’s greats.

Career Achievements and Legacy

Elvin Hayes retired from the NBA in 1984 after a 16-year career that saw him accumulate numerous accolades and records. He finished his career with 27,313 points, ranking him 10th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list at the time of his retirement. He also grabbed 16,279 rebounds, placing him among the top 10 rebounders in NBA history.

Hayes was a 12-time NBA All-Star, a six-time All-NBA selection, and led the league in rebounding twice. His consistency and durability were remarkable, as he played in 1,303 of a possible 1,312 games during his career, missing only nine games due to injury.

In recognition of his contributions to the game, Elvin Hayes was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990. His number 11 jersey was retired by the Washington Wizards (formerly the Bullets) in honor of his impact on the franchise.

Life After Basketball

After retiring from professional basketball, Elvin Hayes remained active in the sport and in his community. He has worked as a radio analyst for the Houston Rockets, sharing his insights and expertise with fans. Hayes has also been involved in various charitable activities, including youth basketball camps and mentoring programs.

Beyond his work in basketball, Hayes returned to the University of Houston to complete his college degree, demonstrating his commitment to education and personal growth. His dedication to achieving his goals, both on and off the court, serves as an inspiration to athletes and fans alike.

The Legacy of The Big E

Elvin Hayes’ impact on basketball is profound. He was a dominant force on the court, a leader, and a champion whose contributions to the game continue to be celebrated. The Big E’s legacy is one of excellence, perseverance, and a love for the game that transcends generations. Whether remembered for his collegiate heroics, his NBA dominance, or his lasting influence on the sport, Elvin Hayes will forever be enshrined as one of the greatest players in basketball history.

[forulatestupdate]

Shikhar Dhawan's Impactful Journey in IPL 2024: A Star Reborn

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has always been a platform where cricketing talents shine and narratives unfold. Among these narratives, the story of Shikhar Dhawan in IPL 2024 stands out as a testament to resilience, skill, and adaptability. In this blog post, we delve into Dhawan's journey in the 2024 season of IPL, exploring his performances, impact on his team, and the broader context of his career.

Shikhar Dhawan: A Brief Overview:

Before delving into his IPL 2024 journey, let's take a moment to understand Shikhar Dhawan's cricketing career. Hailing from Delhi, Dhawan made his mark in domestic cricket before earning his debut for the Indian national team. Known for his elegant stroke play and ability to anchor an innings, Dhawan has been a consistent performer in various formats of the game.

However, like any cricketer, Dhawan has faced his share of challenges, including fluctuations in form and injury setbacks. Despite these hurdles, he has always managed to bounce back with determination and resilience, earning him admiration from fans and fellow cricketers alike.

IPL 2024: Shikhar Dhawan's Resurgence:

As the IPL caravan rolled into 2024, Shikhar Dhawan found himself in a new avatar – that of a seasoned campaigner with a point to prove. Representing a new franchise this season, Dhawan embraced the challenge with characteristic gusto, determined to make his presence felt in the tournament.

Dhawan's Impactful Performances:

Throughout IPL 2024, Dhawan showcased his class and experience with a series of impactful performances. Whether it was anchoring the innings with solid knocks or playing the role of an aggressor when needed, Dhawan exhibited versatility and adaptability, earning crucial runs for his team.

One of the defining moments of Dhawan's campaign came in a high-pressure match against a formidable opponent. With his team chasing a daunting total, Dhawan played a masterful innings, pacing his innings to perfection and guiding his team to a thrilling victory. His knock not only secured two crucial points but also served as a reminder of his ability to thrive under pressure.

Beyond the Numbers: Dhawan's Leadership:

While Dhawan's on-field exploits were commendable, his leadership off the field also played a significant role in his team's success. As one of the senior players in the squad, Dhawan led by example, providing guidance and support to younger teammates and fostering a positive team environment.

His calm demeanor and strategic acumen were evident in crucial moments, whether it was during team meetings or on-field discussions. Dhawan's leadership qualities not only earned him respect from his peers but also played a pivotal role in shaping the team's dynamics throughout the tournament.

The Road Ahead: Dhawan's Legacy in IPL:

As IPL 2024 draws to a close, Shikhar Dhawan's legacy in the tournament continues to grow. Beyond the runs scored and matches won, Dhawan's journey serves as an inspiration for aspiring cricketers across the globe. His ability to overcome challenges, adapt to new environments, and excel on the grandest stage exemplifies the essence of cricketing excellence.

Looking ahead, Dhawan's presence in IPL will undoubtedly continue to enrich the tournament, with fans eagerly anticipating his performances in the seasons to come. Whether it's with the bat in hand or his leadership off the field, Dhawan's contributions to IPL are sure to leave an indelible mark on the tournament's history.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Shikhar Dhawan's journey in IPL 2024 stands as a testament to his skill, resilience, and leadership. From his impactful performances on the field to his role as a mentor and leader off it, Dhawan has exemplified the true spirit of cricketing excellence. As the curtains fall on yet another thrilling season of IPL, Dhawan's legacy in the tournament remains secure, inspiring generations of cricketers to come.

Through his journey, Dhawan has not only etched his name in the annals of IPL history but also endeared himself to fans worldwide, earning their admiration and respect. As we reflect on Dhawan's journey in IPL 2024, one thing is clear – the saga of this cricketing stalwart is far from over, with many more chapters yet to be written on the grand stage of the Indian Premier League.

[lanegrablues]

Updates 4.0: “The dating pool is pissy”

🏊🏾‍♂️

So. I told myself that if I was going to date that I would date with intentionality. 😂 I lied to myself. My intention was to be intentional but, I.. should’ve known that wasn’t going to happen. Listen. I am a “lover girl”… I fall too hard, too fast. I… don’t allow a lot of people in, so when I do.. I become an open book..I am transparent but, I become open… like.. I have no shame with you. I’m not going to lie to you. Anything you ask, I’m going to tell you. I offer up the truth voluntarily.

When I let you in.. I say “go ahead and take your shoes off.” I immediately become available because, I care. “I can make time.” It could be 1 am and I’m half sleep but, I’ll answer for you. I could go on and on.

Foolish BUT… hey.. 🤷🏾‍♀️

I love how purely and passionately … I love the way that I love (loyal, childlike, hopeful, with no score of wrongdoing, complex yet simply…)but this often leads to my emotional demise.

2023 “dating fails”: I started dating mid-2022 after being celibate for 7 years. I personally enjoy dating & getting to know new people. The desire is to be found by my husband. 🤡😂 Seriously. I’m not a serial dater but I’ve dated several people.. but THESE are the top 5 fails of the year. The most mention worthy. 😒🤣

Side note: I love clarity. It leaves little to no room for confusion. Dating to me is talking to someone … that you want to pursue romantically/emotionally. You are more intentional about or invested in contact. Y’all can go on dates, be in one another’s presence consistently, talk often via video or phone, if necessary. It doesn’t have anything to do with sex. I don’t believe that you are sexual with everyone that you date. (The term dating is subjective, but that’s my definition)

So. Let’s get into it.

💩- Maybe.. I won’t be super discrete with this one but, my ex. I don’t think he is a P.O.S but, 🤷🏾‍♀️ …that hurt that I felt was CRAZY. When I tell you.. he had me twisted and I’m not talking about no Keith Sweat song. I loved him foolishly. Anything he asked me to do (within moderation..I did. I wasn’t out here willing to catch charges but, I would’ve done anything for him.) I was at the family functions. Went to church with his mother. Hung out with his dad. Listen. All that. That was the biggest fail but the biggest blessing. I would have been MISERABLE- if I forced myself to stay. It wasn’t all bad but, it was abusive emotionally, mentally and physically towards the end.

🏋🏾‍♂️- Listen. Mississippi had me smiling from ear to ear. That boy had me giddy like a little school girl. I would’ve married that man, if he would’ve asked. I knew that it wouldn’t work long term but, I was so captivated. He was … reserved but not timid, logical, hardworking, determined, witty, charming, loved children… a body handcrafted by God Himself.. I could go on and on. We had fun together. I often felt safe in his presence. We could be in silence & I’d be okay. We’d put each other onto different series & just binge watch them together. All day and night. At times, he’d just stare at me and tell me that I was pretty. He’d … in our silence.. just pull me close and I felt safe. Until, I didn’t. We stopped dating for awhile then, when we began dating again… he was less attentive and “mean.” He’d want me around but, wouldn’t even look at me. He’d want me around but, then would treat me like he didn’t want me there. He was demanding of my time. The fun we used to have always ended in a disagreement, in which I’d leave. When I tried to address my concerns, he’d shut down the conversation when he used to talk about it openly/willingly. We both agreed to see where things went but, he began to accuse me of being in a relationship with someone else. 🤷🏾‍♀️ Still. I swooned over him. Smiling when he’d call.. running when he’d call.. until I didn’t anymore. Not to drag it out. Our last conversation ended in him.. saying that he feels bad for the man who loves me.. then, in his rage.. I tried to stroke his shoulder to calm him down. Something I did in the past that worked and then, he pushed me into the stove. I said “no way”… quickly grabbed my purse and my shoes without putting them on… left and never turned back.

🤵🏿‍♂️- “the Mack” lol We met so unexpectedly. He was so direct & gave me his number to reach out if I was I interested. I waited about 2 weeks, before he found me on socials & messaged me. When we first met I friend zoned him subconsciously… but, after being around him.. babyyyy.. I became “addicted” to his energy. He had a calm nature to him. Quiet. Reserved. Didn’t speak unless he had something “significant” to say. He didn’t believe in space filling with meaningless words. Didn’t do too much. Wasn’t about being popular or being seen by everyone. He rode his own wave and I liked that. He was able to make me feel calm. I’m so used to being this big ball of energy/light. Full of smiles, laughter, charisma, joy, personality and he showed me how to relax the muscles of my spine. It was refreshing because, I was so used to a chaotic passion. The type of “passion” that always made you feel something/always feel high or low. Until him, I didn’t know that it was okay to be still. That chemistry is still chemistry.. even if it’s relaxed. I went into it being reluctant and saying “let’s see” but, after I encountered his energy… I was like “no.. I need to know your intentions for me, rn. Can you see yourself marrying me.” (Sounds crazy when I write it) but.. long story short. I wasn’t the one for him. He wanted to still date but, I desired clarity and without him being able to define or articulate his plans for us- I knew that there was a plan but, I wasn’t included in it. So.. I had to bow out.

🏈- This is the messiest. So. I had someone pursue me for a year. 365 DAYS. I wasn’t really interested. He was consistent but, I knew I wasn’t in a place to date. We were talking consistently then, I decided that I was going to give myself some time to just sit. (I didn’t express that to him… and I kinda… went ghost 🤦🏾‍♀️) Months went by and he ended up reaching out to me. He stated that he was still interested & wanted to see me. So he planned a date. *speeds up story* Besides him… wining and dining me. Clearly, flexing his money. (Which I didn’t care about- so… I made it a point to pay for the second half of our date)… our date was amazing. Conversation was amazing. Energy was amazing. He was like me… energetic, witty, intelligent, an ambivert… knew how to catch my little innuendos and how to respond while being respectful/making my heart melt at the same time. It felt a perfect puzzle piece. It just… worked in the midst of subtle differences. I felt like I had known him forever. We felt like an old couple. Our date was full of laughter… joking… great meaningful exchanges.. innocent flirting… we even dressed similar by coincidence. All that. The night ended well… I began to ask certain personal questions because my gut prompted me too.. I asked if he was seeing anyone- he said no.. he expressed intentions on seeing me but, said the ball was in my court since I went ghost last time. Long story short- something told me google his number to try to find details because, he said he wasn’t on social media. THAT GUT FEELING! I googled his number- this man had been pursuing me under a fake name. Same first letter but, not his first name or middle. That wasn’t the kicker- the kicker was him BEING MARRIED WITH TWO KIDS. One child being under the age of 1. The cherry on top was that he was an assistant coach for a well known NFL team. He had interviews, podcasts, college lectures on YouTube… articles through CNN… all that… When I tell you- my jaw dropped. I don’t care about status but, I felt so dumb. I felt played. Outside the obvious.. as to why it ended.. this man.. had the nerve to ask me was I going to stay with him. I didn’t cuss him out BUT, I wanted to. I enjoyed our time but as a woman with integrity.. I refuse to date someone else’s husband. I refuse to date a liar. I felt so sick for days about this one. Carrying guilt that didn’t belong to me. I would NEVER willingly involve myself with someone married. Safe to say.. blocked and forgotten.

🦍- *My last chin check* If my dating life was an icecream cone.. “he” surely was the cherry on top.

I don’t remember how we met really. I think it was via social media. He sent me a request and I didn’t think anything of it. We’d exchange small messages. Nothing serious. Idk when that changed but, he was another… “unexpected surprise.” I didn’t expect to like him as much as I did. (See a common theme?) Pushing myself to ride past the stop sign then, crashing. Some mutual “friends” tried to say “nooo… do not” for various reasons that I won’t say… But, when we finally met in person… he was cool. Tall. Handsome. Nice voice. Approachable energy. A leader from what was presented to me. A jokester like me. A man of God.. from our early conversations he seemed quiet… reserved.. (you see the theme) but, all in all… I was excited to get to know him. I didn’t see any red flags but also.. I wasn’t looking. I was too distracted by the height. 😂 We hung out and it went well.. so I thought… we went from talking consistently.. sleeping on the phone. (Stuff I didn’t do with anyone since my ex) to radio silence. I had text him/attempted to create conversation but he didn’t feel the need to respond or the responses were short. 🤷🏾‍♀️ And in true human nature, I thought.. “he must have decided that he didn’t like me” or “I must have done something wrong” or “he must have a girlfriend.” I reached out one last time with a heartfelt/honest message and didn’t receive a response. (Ouch..) days later… he responded with a text that I deemed very vague/shallow and an insult to my intelligence- so I didn’t respond.. the message stated that he didn’t want to waste my time. Eh. We had already been talking consistently. I thought he had genuine interest in me as someone he’d want to see where things could go with but I was wrong… *not to go through the entire timeline** we stopped talking.. began talking again… weeks later? *Long story made short again* After.. some things transpired & I felt the distance again. I felt like he was done after what happened.. happened… We had a conversation that left me hopeful that we’d still be moving forward (getting to know one another) He was so open in conversation. I’ve never heard him super goofy or laughing with all 32 teeth showing. I liked that part of him… I felt honored that he let me see him in his glory. He was goofy before but that conversation was different. After that… it got silent again.. we had an awkward conversation that he didn’t seem enthused to have & he told me that he was not ready for a relationship. (the with you was silent but, heard) 🤷🏾‍♀️ Eh. Happens. Rejection happens all the time, but I didn’t expect to feel played. I didn’t expect for him to be what I had experienced in the past. I appreciate not wasting my time but, I had already been intimate- emotionally.. physically. I had already built up this hope (no fault of his) in my head. I felt like we were compatible. Yes, we had chemistry (initially).. but, we (in my eyes) shared similar views… similar customs, etc. So the “I don’t want you”….stung like hell… and in true poet fashion… in true lover girl fashion… in true.. “I need to sit my ass down and heal” fashion… I internalized. I thought…If I was prettier, maybe. If I was smarter, maybe. If I looked like, so and so. If I had a bigger booty, maybe. If I didn’t give it up, maybe. Man.. did he only want? Did he not like it when we? All those thoughts…

And I share all this to my private yet public blog to say… IM SITTING MY ASS DOWN FOR THE REST OF 2023. Lol But, I say all that to say… heal.. be reflective and introspective. I say all that to say… it’s okay when things don’t work out. That’s life. Keep the ball rolling. You won’t have to prove your worth to “your person.” You won’t have to say “pick me” to your person. You won’t have to question or doubt if your person wants you… none of that.

I learned to stop internalizing not being someone’s person. Maybe, they liked you until they got to know you. 🤷🏾‍♀️ Maybe… they only wanted sex… maybe, they thought you were someone you weren’t.. there are a lot of maybe’s but ITS OKAY. Dating fails are apart of the game but, be wise.

It’s has been difficult to not over analyze but I’m going to listen on God. FOR REAL. He always shows signs and gives warning- but, are you listening?

See…I don’t think dating is necessarily bad but I need to take the hints. I need to see the signs. I need to stop settling because I don’t want to be anyone’s safe bet.. I don’t want anyone to be my safe bet…

I’m going to guard my heart. These dating fails have shown me that I am a giver. I give my all because I’m a nurturer at heart. I love deeply. I have a fragile but big heart. I wear my heart on my sleeve and sometimes that gives the illusion of “falling in love too fast or too hard” when I really… connect with energies… do I make the best decisions always? No… but, if we did.. would there be any growing room or lessons learned?

[polhsales]

Blood bowl 3 lizardmen

He entered into numerous dark pacts with various daemonic entities and ran auditions tirelessly until he had the best cheerleading squad in the NAF. He hired the best head coach money could buy, convincing Harry the Idolator to leave his previous position with Khaine’s Killers and equipping him with the best familiars and assistants that dark magic could bring forth. When establishing his team, the Overfiend cut no corners. It is no surprise then that when his interest in Blood Bowl was piqued, his presence in the game as a team owner was soon felt. Whoever he is, it is apparent that he wields great influence his web of power and wealth reaching far and wide. Known commonly as ‘The Overfiend of the Lead Citadel’, or simply as ‘The Overfiend’, some speculate that he is an Orc turned to Chaos, while others insist that he is a Skaven warlord with a penchant for sports entertainment. No two commentators can agree from where he hails and the theories as to his motives are many and varied. The exact identity and origin of the owner of the Doom Lords is somewhat of a mystery. Then stabbed ’em up and made ’em scream!” Skaven teams have never been short of fans – they seem to crawl out of the very walls sometimes – and the Scramblers have such numerous and ravenous fans that their games often need temporary ad-hoc seating arrangements to accommodate them, and they almost never leave a stadium un-damaged after they go. It can only be a matter of time before the Scramblers reach the top again. Three times winners of the Blood Bowl, the team possesses a vicious mixture of the natural speed of the Skaven and the brutal raw power of its Rat Ogres. Rising from the foulest sewers of the land, the Skavenblight Scramblers are the world’s premier Skaven team, consistently beating out their nearest rivals, the Warphunters. Known for being the most prolific cheaters in the game, some of their players are proficient assassins. If you can catch one of them, a superhuman feat to be sure, they struggle to take a hit. Skaven teams are very fast and very sneaky. Gissa G, gissa O, gissa W, gissa J… (etc)” We’ll pull yore hair an’ pinch yore thighĪn’ if dat don’t work, we’ll gouge your eye! Even when measured against consistent league winners like the Reavers, the Gouged Eye are not to be underestimated – they are steamrolling their way to a championship and wont be stopped. Under the auspices of tribal overlord Gobsuck Skullcrush XII and the extremely sadistic training methods of Severlimb, the Gouged Eye have thrived, and the cycle of violence dolled out in training can be seen in every play the team makes – it’s a rare match against the Gouged Eye that doesn’t end with numerous casualties. The Gouged Eye has risen steadily from its years as a laughing stock, and are now chief contenders for the top spot. This is also true on the road, as the team travels with a veritable Waaagh! of fans wherever they play. Under the dismal, dingy lights of the Doom Dome, the Orcs play with a powerful home-field advantage, and they are all too happy to use their loud, belligerent crowds to intimidate their opponents. Big, strong and heavily armoured, Orc teams’ preferred tactic is to mangle the opposing players until they litter the pitch and can no longer contest the ball – scoring points is a secondary concern.

[andreabarzagli]

Dybala though..

[polariskai]

crush! │hnk

 ❛ CHAPTER ONE ⵓ HOW IT STARTED  

≡ M.LIST │ ↻ NEXT

Your life up until the fourth grade was your peak. You were known as the ace of your class, always excelling in everything. You were popular for your intelligence, athletic abilities, wealth and friendliness. You felt that you were untouchable and that nobody could ever dare to compete with you.

That was until a seemingly shy, gloomy boy transferred to your class. Initially, he didn’t seem to capture your interest or attention at all. He was always by himself and didn’t seem so friendly. So you thought maybe he was a slacking student, nothing that interesting about him.

…You were all wrong

When your science teacher unveiled the name of the student who managed to score full marks in the exam, everyone turned to you and you got up, ready for the praise coming your way. Unexpectedly, the teacher revealed the shy boy, “hueningkai” earned those marks and for the first time, someone had beaten you.

It was truly the most humbling moment of your life.

You didn’t think much of it, though, thinking that it’s just one exam, it can’t hurt. You also happened to discover the boy came from a lower class family, so you felt apathetic for him and accepted the defeat.

But it didn’t stop there.

From then on, he managed to consistently earn top marks in all the exams and you always landed second place. He even joined the track and field team in your school and ended up becoming the star player, pushing you out of your place.

Oh, it made your blood boil. You did everything you could and he just managed to beat you in everything. Your parents weren’t pressuring you to place first or anything, though. They were happy with whatever performance you had. In fact, they were encouraging you to accept your losses.

You could never accept defeat. You just had to think of something you could beat him to.

You guys were in elementary school and you’d often hear your friends gush about their crushes and excitedly talking about what romantic love is like. You even received multiple love confessions from different boys. And that’s when it hits you. What if you emotionally tormented him instead?

You then develop an evil plan to befriend him, make him fall in love and break his heart at the end, finally proclaiming you as the winner. Your friend Taehyun tried to stop you and convince you that your plan was very illogical and that you were most likely to lose, but you didn’t care; you were desperate for a taste or victory against him.

First, to start up the plan, you have to befriend him, of course.

You approach him first, inviting him to eat lunch with you, even preparing an extra meal for him.

 To your surprise, he accepts it (well who would turn down free food?) . You then initiate the conversation with him, but it’s just mostly you talking and him replying with a word or two, a whole sentence if you were lucky. The entire time, he kept a stoic expression on his face.

From then on, you started talking to him more. You figured he was probably just shy at first. Maybe sooner or later he’ll warm up and be talkative.

But years past and you’re in high school, you always approached him every chance you got and often hung out with him. You were pretty much chasing him all the time.

You were always talking to him in the library after school or even during the free class hours, being a nuisance to him while he was studying. He wasn’t really bothered by you, though, and you were the only person he talked to.

Although talking to him felt mostly like an inner monologue, you felt a sense of comfort with his presence around. He was still pretty mysterious to you, seeing as his only personality trait happens to just be studying.

You realized you and kai had never really hung out outside of school. So you plan on hitting the arcade with him today. You informed him the day before and he just casually agreed.

Upon entering the arcade, kai turns to you and his eyes widen in amusement as he scans the place.

“You’re acting as if it’s your first time in here.”

“the last time I've been here is probably from when I was still a toddler.” He says, and you were taken aback. You look at him, confused.

“Really? Well let's go!" You took his hand in yours and dragged him first towards the basketball shooting game.

"Okay so let's do this side by side, whoever gets the higher score gets to choose the next game, okay?" Kai nods and you both position yourself in front of your own game.

"Ooh you better watch out Kai, I'm a pro at this game."

Once it started, you managed to make a few misses but you felt confident you were going to get a higher score.

When the game ended, you checked your score and you've gotten a score of 800 , you punched the air and put your tongue out to Kai, acting all arrogant, you were so sure you were going to win .

You got to look at his score and your eyes widened. He managed to hit a score of 1000 and you immediately look away and you hung your head low.

"Oh y/n I got 1000." Kai points at his own score.

It was another moment to be humbled again.

You guys went on to explore all the other games in the arcade. You enjoyed playing the shooting games the most and as expected, Kai managed to score higher than you Every time you were playing against each other, which is why you just opted to play only the games as a single player instead.

Once you guys arrived at the claw machines, Kai was surprisingly good at them. You begged him to get you one of the molang keychains.

"And here..y/n I got it." He passes the keychain to you.

"thank you I didn't expect you to be so good at claw machines, well you're good at everything so it's kinda expected." You chuckle at your statement and just then, you hear a buzz coming from Kai's pocket.

He took his phone out and found an unknown number calling him.

"Hello?"

Kai's blank expression turns to a nervous one. Once the call ended, he panicked and you weren't sure on what to do.

"My mom's in the hospital right now, Apparently she got hit by something. I need to go." He started biting his nails as he walked towards the exit. You walk next to him. It was your first time seeing Kai this tense.

"Kai I can go with you."

"No it's okay, thanks for inviting me to the arcade though." He says. You realize the hospital would be too far and seeing him only go there on his bike, it would take far too long for him to even get there.

"Kai going there on bike would take too long, just let me come with you, I came here by car with a driver so I can take you there." Kai turns to you and his eyes widen. He takes a moment to process things and you just grab his hand.

"Come on, you don't have much time."

You sat outside the room, patiently waiting for the nurse to give you the go signal to enter the room.

Kai was still in panic mode and you had been caressing his back for the past few minutes in an attempt to calm him down.

"what if my mom's severely injured for life? what if it's so terrible? what if she's in a coma? what if-"

"We have yet to hear from the nurse, don't overthink too much. I understand you're a bit anxious but let's wait for a bit okay?" You take his hand in yours, rubbing it in circular motions. You give him a small smile.

"You're right, I shouldn't overthink much, I'm just really afraid of losing her..my mom just means so much to me. You know..the only reason I live and work hard is for my mom, she works so so hard for me and the reason why I study hard is not because I love it so much..I do it because I feel this is the only way I can repay her efforts. "He sighs and tears begin to form in his eyes. It broke your heart to see Kai in a vulnerable state.

You did find this to be quite endearing. You never knew the boy was very thoughtful and caring.

You pull him in a hug and continuously rub his back like a mother trying to calm down her baby. 

"It's okay kai, I'm here for you." He hugs you tighter and the tears fall and you can hear him sobbing.

"uh sorry to interrupt your moment . But are you Ms. Huening's son?"

Kai slowly pulls away from you before rubbing his eyes, turning to the nurse and nodding his head.

"You may come in now." The nurse gestures towards the door and you and Kai get up.

Kai holds your hand before opening the door, and you were slightly surprised as he had never willingly taken your hand in his.

As soon as the door opened, you were greeted with the sight of kai's mom smiling with a cast on her arm. You and kai were relieved to see that she didn’t seem to suffer from any serious injuries.

" Hello Kai!" She chuckles. Kai lets go of your hand, bursting into tears once again as he rushes to his mom, pulling her into an embrace.

"Ouch not too tight!"

"Sorry!" Kai loosens the embrace and flashes a smile at his mom through his tears.

"Honey I'm so sorry did I make you worry? It's nothing serious alright don't worry it's just an arm fracture." She continues to reassure him as she rubs his back to let him finish his cry.

"Mom."

"Yes dear?"

"I actually need to go to the bathroom can I excuse myself?"

"of course." She lets out a light laugh and nods.

Kai takes his exit and you stay in the same position, standing by the door, awkwardly, fidgeting with your hands.

"Oh dear, Are you perhaps y/n?" You look up and nod.

"ah yes." you go forward and stand near her.

"so you're y/n! I've heard a lot about you from Kai." Your eyes lit up and you were surprised over what she said. If anything, you always thought Kai would never think much of you.

"Really?"

"you know what, Kai has never been doing much besides well, studying and studying and studying. After school, he’d come home and he does the chores and prepares me dinner, although I’ve scolded him already multiple times, he really didn’t need to do those things, he’s always stubborn and I just let him. Then when I arrive home from work, I always ask him how he is or if there’s anything new, he usually says nothing much and I've always been trying to encourage him to make friends, experience more of the outside world, trying to get him to stop worrying too much about me. and last year, when he told me he met you, I've been so happy hearing about new stories with his new friend, I was just happy to know he's trying new things."

You smile upon hearing what she said.

"And thank you so much for that..for letting him see more of the outside world besides school and well taking care of me. I'm very happy to know that Kai has at least another person he can rely on." She takes your hand in hers.

"I hope you continue being there for him. Please take care of my Kai well."

You grin from ear to ear and you feel your heart warming over everything his mom said. Despite befriending him in the guise of rivalry, you didn't know how much your friendship might've meant to him.

"I will."

You stood near the entrance, waiting for your driver to fetch you.

You hear the sound of loud footsteps coming your way and when you turn your back to your surprise, Kai comes rushing towards you.

"Slow down, this is not a 500 meter race."

You laughed at him and he was still catching his breath.

"y/n I just forgot to say something." You raise your eyebrows, anticipating what he's trying to say .

"uh thank you. like thank you really"

You smile and wave your hands in the air. "It's no big deal Kai and we're friends after all that's just what friends do."

Just then, you see your car stopping in front of you. You waved at him and before you could open the door, Kai had one last thing to say

"but thank you, actually not just for day but for everything. I really owe you a lot. anyways uh take care y/n." He waves back at you and sends you a warm smile.

You feel your heart warming up as you've never, ever seen Kai smile that way.  If anything, you’ve never felt like you cared so much about kai. But after today, you realized how much you meant to him... and perhaps how he meant to you, too. 

You felt your heart skip a beat thinking about him. And that's when it hits you.

oh no.

You were developing a crush on him.

[fabricated-misslieness]

pairing: bokuto, iwaizumi, kageyama, kuroo, miya twins, and ushijima x shorter manager male reader

req: yes | cw: suggestive | 16+

alex: MOST OF THE TALL THIGH GUYS IN HAIKYUU SIMP FOR THE SHORTER MALE MANAGER AFTER THEY FOUND OUT HE LIKES BIG THIGHS(and tits and all that) WHILE THEY TRY TO MAKE THEIRS LOOK BIG AND JUICY????

hcs of tall boys simping for a shorter manager because they like thicc body parts

a/n: i didn’t mention this because i did want to write it, but alex, reqs were closed. unless you suggested this for 1.5k, in which case, just why?

Introduction

A volleyball training camp consisting of some of Japan’s most prominent high schools. Chaotic, right?

Well, many schools came: Aoba Johsai, Fukurodani, Nekoma, Inarizaki, Itachiyama, and Shiratorizawa.

These training camps often led to the teams’ managers getting to know each other better and bonding. And as Itachiyama’s manager, even if most of them were girls, you were no exception.

Which meant, while all the managers collectively did their manager duties like refilling water bottles, you talked.

And, for some reason, the topic of boys came along and what ‘type’ of boy they liked.

You see, the girls were nice. They looked for personalities, rather than body parts - most of them anyway.

You on the other hand, well, you loved thick boys.

Prominent man boobs, thick thighs, fat asses.

“Is that… why you became a manager?”

“Is that why you don’t hand out towels?”

Unbeknownst to you, and the girls, a few people were eavesdropping on you.

 

Bokuto

“I’d say that fits your description, right Bokuto?” Konoha playfully elbowed him on the chest, but the ace wasn’t paying attention. “Eh, Bokutooo? You there?”

He was not, in fact, there.

He really had no plan to charm you at all. If he already had these traits, surely your eyes would drift off to him, right?

But obviously, he subconsciously starts showing off more when you’re watching his match.

He starts glancing at you every time he scores a point. Slowly, glances turn into looks that ask for praise, like a puppy; and then looks turn into verbal “Did you see that (y/n)?!”

You don’t know when or why he started fixating on you, but you certainly weren’t complaining.

Thanks to your praise, Bokuto slowly starts getting more comfortable around you. Then, one day after he scores the game winning point, he runs over to you.

Before you know it, he’s pulled you into a hug.

“WOO (Y/N), DID YOU SEE THAT?!”

But you don’t reply, because 1) you can’t with your face smushed against man boobies, and 2) this is heaven.

Bokuto’s confused, of course, until he realizes your hands on his thighs.

He only laughs it off, until Komori comes. Behind the libero is a possessive looking Sakusa and a scary Iizuna. Komori’s about to spew some protective comment like, “hands of our manager” but you stop him.

The will to stay in this bear hug is stronger than the boobies giving you an inability to speak. “Let me have this, Komori.”

“Ah, right, you like this kind of stuff.” The libero laughs, slowly nudging Sakusa and Iizuna away. 

“What’s this kind of stuff?”

“You, hot stuff.”

 

Iwaizumi

“Iwa-chan, you’re not gonna leave me for him, righ-?”

“Shut up, Oikawa.”

It starts off subtle, wiping off sweat from his face with the bottom of his shirt and making sure to expose his pecs. Though such a thing works when there’s no other thicc boy in the room.

Then he starts stretching more often, particularly his legs.

Sometimes, on particularly hot days, he rolls his shorts even higher up his thigh.

Slowly, as you start to talk more often, he does the same things while you’re hanging out relatively alone.

“Hajime.” 

“Hm?” He stops his stretching, looking at you curiously. You lick your lips, your gaze looking at his thighs.

“Keep stretching.”

He obeys. His thighs flex and stiffen, the stretching starts getting painful, but he doesn’t stop because he knows you like it. When you press a hand against his thigh, he lets out a low groan.

“Fuck, Hajime.”

Finally, he knows you’re absolutely enamoured with his body.

 

Kageyama

“None of us fit that description.”

“Shut up, boke.”

“I mean...you fit that description?”

Each time he knows his gaze is on you, as he’s in the back line ready to receive a serve, he sticks out his ass just that little bit more. Along with tensing his thighs.

Sometimes he drags Hinata to receive his serves somewhere within your vicinity. When Hinata receives it and sends it back to him, he doesn’t catch it. Instead, he lets it fall so that you can watch him bend over to grab it.

He might even shake his ass a little.

One time, when something accidentally falls out of his hands, you confront him.

“Tobio, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”

“Doing what?” He looks at you through his lashes - up for once, booty out and still bending over. Then he has the audacity to shake his bubble butt.

He smiles when you let out a frustrated groan. “That.”

“I still don’t know what you’re referring to.”

 

Kuroo

“Ha, that sorta fits Kuroo. Wait, Kuroo, are you-?”

“Yes, absolutely, yes.”

You know that extremely flexible receive? Yeah? Expect to see that a lot.

It shows off his ass and thighs and just- umph im such a simp

Unlike most others, he’s much more forward about it than others. He won’t outright say it, granted, but he’ll be more touchy with you.

One second, his arm is wrapped around your shoulder. The next, he’s pulled the back of your head to one of his pecs. 

When your team spots this, they rush over to get him to stop. At the forefront of the group is Iizuna. “Hands off our manager.”

Before you can say anything, Kuroo speaks up, “Last time I checked, (y/n)’s his own person. Besides, he enjoy this, right?”

“Yeah.” You don’t defend yourself from Iizuna, because hell, the captain banter is entertainment.

The two captains glare at each other with their competitive yet polite looks. Eventually, Iizuna falters. He can’t argue with you saying you like it, nor does he have the comebacks in him to talk to the ‘provocative expert’.

 

Atsumu Miya

The twins stare at each other, glaring as they usually do. “Dibs.” Atsumu says, and Osamu can’t deny that. It seems he’s missed out on you.

Just like Kuroo, Atsumu is forward.

He is also impatient, so if you don’t catch on the first few times, he’s just going to blur it out.

And that is exactly what happens.

Each time he tries to get your attention, he fails. A subtle wink sent your way, a flex of his bicep, bending and holding on to his knees after a loss penalty, none of them seem to alert you. They don’t, because he’s dumb and doesn’t think to show off the qualities that you like as much as the qualities that he’s confident in.

Which is why he’s here, in front of you while you take a break on the bleachers.

“Miya-san? Don’t you have a game?” You glance down at the court, seeing the rest of Inarizaki playing. They certainly aren’t at their best without their genius setter.

“I like you.”

Your raised eyebrow only taunts him, “And what brought this upon-”

“I know you like me.” He sits next to you, slinging his thighs over your lap. “Don’t you like these thighs?”

“I guess I do, ‘Tsumu.”

 

Osamu Miya

The twins stare at each other, glaring as they usually do. “Dibs.” Osamu calls. Even if Atsumu grumbles and kicks at the ground because he’s missed the opportunity, he can’t deny the power of dibs.

He’s much better at this than Atsumu is. He’s more patient and has no problem with playing the long game.

However, he doesn’t; because unlike Atsumu, he accentuates his qualities that you like.

He pulls up the bottom of his shirt to wipe his face, rolls up his shorts quite high, and generally does things that always have your eyes on his thighs, pecs, or ass.

He’s taunting you, silently telling you to come to him, so that’s what you do.

The next time you find him panting from a run, ass out and bent over, you confront him. Conveniently enough, he’s away from other people.

You make your presence known by putting a hand half on his ass, half on his thigh.

“Oh, heeey, (y/n).” He gives you an all-knowing look, paired with lazy half lidded eyes.

“You know why I’m here, don’t you, ‘Samu?”

“Obviously.”

 

Ushijima Wakatoshi

“I like thick men, the ones with prominent pecs, thick thighs, and bubble butts.”

Sure, he heard it. Sure, he processed it. But did he think about it afterwards? No. Did he connect the dots? No.

In fact, you’re the one attracted to him.

Ushijima is that one oblivious yet extremely suggestive individual. He does squats after practice, thigh-accentuating stretches, bends over without a single thought, this man is blatantly sexy.

You have to keep yourself from doing anything indecent.

So, it’s quite obvious you like him. Anytime he’s in the room, you’re staring at him. As such, Sakusa takes notice, and boy is he disgusted.

“(y/n), please don’t like him.”

Why? He didn’t want to let you date him, it’d turn you into a reminder of one of his most formidable opponents.

“Sakusa, I can’t help it.”

Welp, he’s doomed.

“(y/n), hey.” You’d never really interacted before you approached him. He noticed that you always looked at him, but he didn’t really think about it, nor did he think about why you did it. There were more important things to focus on.

“I like you.”

“Huh?”

He’s so dense, so oblivious, gosh. Good luck with him.

[kittyball23]

A Van Helsing Perspective (a Hotel Transylvania fanfic)

You must have been about four or five the very first time you heard about him. Much too old for fairy tales about Big Bad Wolves or witches who eat wandering children that stroll by her cottage, your great-grandfather decides to tell you a different story as he tucks you into bed that night. A story of a terrifying beast of a man, with dark magical abilities and an insatiable appetite that consisted of human blood. Your eyes widen involuntarily he tells you that the man is an immortal creature called a vampire, who is known far and wide as the infamous Count Dracula. At first, you don’t know what to make of him - or what he’s counting for that matter - but you do know that he is evil and must be ridden of his presence in the world. Thankfully, your great-grandfather enlightens you to some rather pleasing news. Because, despite your diminutive stature and less-than-threatening appearance now, in the future you were destined to be a great monster hunter, just like great-grandfather was. For it was the Van Helsing legacy to enter a life-long commitment to destroy the evil vampire that was Dracula. Any other child might be frightened to hear such a thing expected of them, but you take it in stride, and already begin plotting ideas in your head for how to make him have a permanent stay in his coffin. It’s a thought that puts a smile onto your lips as you drift off into sleep that night, and dream for the first time in your life about killing Dracula.

___________________________________

Week after week, month after month, and year upon year, you train.

You take up karate in your youth, easily mastering the judo-like moves and pretending that the boards you smash through are his face. Along with martial arts, you master the skills of archery, shooting, and knife-throwing in your teenage years and beyond. Handling deadly weaponry like harpoons, spears, and all sorts of guns varying in size and shape now come second nature, and you hardly miss a target - moving, or not.

Your great-grandfather is impressed with your improvement, and one day entrusts you to his plan. Upon hearing it, you must admit it is pretty good. For somewhere deep beneath the seemingly-serene waves of the ocean was a terrible instrument of destruction that was so powerful, it succeeded in eliminating a whole city of monsters. He was eager to find it, lure the monsters with an enjoyable cruise on their boat, and then watch as they were destroyed in their final destination. You nod in approval when he is done explaining, and the work starts. His job is to pinpoint the location of Atlantis’s lost City and arrange the cruise bookings once found. Your job is to refine your training, and truly learn how to captain the Legacy. With everything you had to learn, it really is no problem at all. You even get some practice captaining for human cruises with much success. Then one day, as you throw knives at a worned poster of Dracula, your great-grandfather bursts into the room and announces that the commercial for the cruise has aired to monster audiences all over the world - Transylvania, included. In response, you throw your knife at the poster with more force and grin. The blade lands a direct hit in the forehead.

___________________________________

Finally, after decades of planning and careful preparations, the plan is put into action. Scores of monsters clamored aboard the Legacy that warm summer night, their growls and roars of excitement ringing in the air. You make your presence known once everyone is settled on the deck, greeting them all with an act of great enthusiasm. It works, you think, as no one suspects a thing from your convincing behavior. It is when you start strolling casually on the deck waving to the newcomers that you see him, and there is no doubt in your mind that it is the dreaded vampire your great-grandfather is after. He's just as terrible as you were told, with a whitewashed excuse for skin and sharp, ivory fangs that poke out noticeably from the inside of his mouth. Hmph. So this is the great Count Dracula? you think, as you are reluctantly doing your best to sound as welcoming as possible. Him and his foul friends didn’t deserve such cordiality. It disgusts you to think that he is probably salivating just imagining the many different ways to sink his teeth into your neck. You try not to let it bother you, though. Because in the end, you know his days - along with every other monster aboard the Legacy - are numbered.

___________________________________

Your first attempts at killing him end badly, and put your archery skills to shame. The flare misses his head, as does the lifeboat and crate you try to swing his way. You can’t be too surprised, you suppose. Your great-grandfather didtell you he was a slippery one. How else would he have been able to exhaust generation after generation of Van Helsings? Your scowl deepens even more as you see him prancing about with a dream-like grin on his face. What was heso happy about? Perhaps content with the knowledge that he would soon pick up a human snack on board. But you won't let him, not if you had anything to say about it.

A short time passes, and a string of profanities flies from your lips in rapid succession after the wooden spears fail to stake him during the stop at the scuba-diving site. What’s worse is that your cover was almost blown, and the need to escape the fish-like submarine had cut your time short from finishing the job. You’re still seething from anger when a few voices on the deck catch your attention. Stopping short, you hear his friends ask him if he is going to ask you out. Making a face, you're grateful that you are out of view from any onlookers. Dracula wants to date you? It's sickening to think of. There was no time, even in your excitable teenage years, to even ponder the thought of romance. A boyfriend would only mean a distraction to her mission. Besides, who wanted to be forced to make small talk about trivial things all alone on a date? And then the key word clicks in your head. Alone. You would have him right where you wanted him - alone, without friends or family there to protect him. You smile darkly at the thought. So, he wants to have you for dinner, eh? Well, two could play at that game.

___________________________________

Dinner that night, takes several unexpected turns, to say in the least. Your plan, of course, fails once again. He survives your garlic-laced guacamole, much to your agitation. But, what he says next, strikes a chord within you. Dracula was a widower, the black-haired girl that had boarded with him being his daughter. The girl grew up without a mother, much like how you grew up without your mom ordad. It touches you, really. You never had real parents per say, and your great-grandfather was never one to inform you on who they were. A part of you feels a little bad for the Count, too, burdened with the task of raising his daughter by himself and hoping that she would do him proud. A task, not unlike the one your great-grandfather is taking with you. You suddenly feel the weight of the family legacy upon your shoulders and, while Dracula may not entirely know what is up your sleeve, he still sympathizes, assuring that it is possible to make your own future. The words sink in, and they feel freeing. You look up at him, and suddenly feel a pull, a strong urge to close the gap between the two of your faces. Is it a hypnotic force? You don't see any telltale signs. Whatever it is, you find yourself not caring as you lean in and await his lips to meet yours…

And then, your trance is broken abruptly at the arrival of a new and accusatory voice. The two of you break apart from your bubble, looking up to find the black-haired girl staring them down with heavy suspicion in her steely blue eyes. You’re grateful for the interruption, realizing only now with a panic what you were about to do. Occupied with his daughter, you quickly excuse yourself from Dracula and spend the oncoming daylight hours in a state of numbness. An gravelly voice suddenly startles you from your thoughts as an accompanying head pokes out from one of the ship’s ventilation pipes.

“Ericka!” your great-grandfather yells out in a demanding tone. “And where have you been, young lady?”

“Well, uh, doing work,” you explain quickly, though the excuse is a poor one as he regards your outfit.

“Wearing that?” He shakes his head. “You were with him! I know it!”

“Who?” you ask, hoping he would dismiss it after playing dumb.

It doesn’t work. “Who?! You know who! You’ve been sneaking around my back and trying to kill Dracula again, haven’t you?!”

The accusations make you snap. “So what if I have?! I am a GROWN WOMAN. I have a right to kill whoever I want!”

Great-grandfather shrinks back a bit at your explosion, and more calmly continues. “It’s not just about you. You could have ruined the legacy! What if he discovered who you really were?”

Your fists clench in growing agitation. “I know, I know. I wasn’t thinking. There’s just something about him that drives me CRAZY! I see him and I want to - !”

“Punch him?”

“Uhhh…. I guess….” You falter a bit at your great-grandfather’s suggestion. Punch him? No. I was only about to kiss him a few hours ago, that’s all,you think with a shudder. What the heck is wrong with you? If your great-grandfather could hear your thoughts, he’d certainly have a cow.

“I can’t wait to get this over with!” you cry out in lament, and it couldn’t be more true. This vampire is simply driving you crazy.

___________________________________

The next day passes in a strange sort of blur. It looks to be an easier one at first, as the monsters guests would be too occupied by the entertainment Atlantis had to offer to take any particular notice of you crawling into the abandoned depths of the City that were left behind. You eventually see your object of desire - a stony tentacle-shaped thing that matches the stencil inside your great-grandfather's book - and begin to step toward it. Things seem to happen all at once now - you see an axe hurdling straight toward you from a place on the wall, but never feel the slice of the blade crush your skull open. No, you are not made a fresh corpse, but rather spared that ill-fate from the arrival of Count Dracula himself. You're too shaken to be any kind of mad, even when he makes up a poor excuse of future-predicting powers to explain off why he'd trailed after you in the first place. If anything, you are confused. Dracula had gone out of his way to save a human. If he had been following this whole time, he could have waited for the axe - or any of the booby traps for that matter - to do its job before he came up to your lifeless body and drained it of its blood. But he hadn't, and that's what doesn't make sense. Dracula was the enemy, or so your great-grandfather had always told you so. He was responsible for the defeats of your ancestors. So, why is it that you're feeling so guilty? From all the stories you were told, he had sounded like a remorseless killer who enjoyed bringing his victims pain. But, then you remember how he proceeded to save you from the flying axes, and how harmonious the two of you then were when gliding across toward the top of the trap-riddled staircase like a couple of graceful dancers. You remember looking into his eyes, blue like the ocean and calm like its waters, and thinking just how amiable he looked in that moment, regardless of the arrows and snakes that riddled his body. And then, you stiffen once more as you recall what he had confessed after his daughter - Mavis, was it? - had invaded their moment of privacy. Dracula, the Prince of Darkness, is in love with you. You of all people! He had never had an interest in feasting on your blood. He didn’t want to kill you, he wanted to kiss you. He didn’t want to harm you, he wanted to hold you. The irony of it all would be laughable if it wasn’t for the circumstances, and for that matter, your own mixed feelings. “You don’t understand!” you had said, desperately biting back the urge to confess everything to him about your true identity right there and then. “I could never be with someone like you!”

You felt like crying afterward, for the words were nothing short of a lie. You most certainly could be with someone like him. Someone who was kind-hearted and caring, who wanted nothing more than the best for his family. But, ultimately being who he is, and being who you are, fate just seemed to make it impossible.

Later on, you feel a cold pool of dread pit itself in your stomach as you begrudgingly open the door of the secret chamber and find your great-grandfather already standing at the frame with an expectant look on his elderly face.

“Ha! You got it!” he says in greeting.

“Yes,” you reply, feeling a bit surprised at how soft your voice sounds. A few days ago, you probably would have matched your great-grandfather’s enthusiasm as he hastily snatches the bag from your fingers and examines the tentacled stone object within. He says something about the ‘instrument of destruction’ and the family legacy, but you ignore him, lost in your own mess of thoughts. Secondthoughts about this whole ordeal, and whether or not you wanted to be a part of it anymore.

___________________________________

The Kraken screeches in a terrifying fury as its tentacles swipe at the fleeing monsters below. You recognized some of them - the Mummy frantically scooping the glow-stick-riddled Invisible Man out of the way, the crab-handed Frankenstein as he and his wife ran about - but none of them stand out as much as Dracula. He tries to fly toward the creature to stop it, but the power of the instrument of destruction is no match when up against the hypnotized Kraken. The sea monster easily overpowers both him and his daughter who attempts to come to his aid. Your great-grandfather cackles maniacally as the tentacles wrap tightly around the vampire.

Your heart clenches at the sight of him being suffocated, unable to escape, and unable to break free from the doom that now befell him. Your great-grandfather seems to have no problem at all, but you beg to differ. You know where you stand now, and this wasn't right at all. It was wrong, wrong, wrong!Without a second thought, you rush in to save him - your Zing.

___________________________________

When all was said and done, you know you made the right choice. The choice to spare Dracula his life in favor of starting a new beginning with him, or, a new legacy as you put it. And each day that followed the events of the cruise has him showing you just how much he loves you. With every timid hand-hold. With every warm embrace. With his nerve-wracking marriage proposal, that inevitably led up to your first kiss. You are more than relieved when you find that his friends are actually very supportive of you, and you’ve taken a liking to the girl group that was composed of their wives. Even more thrilling is how well you’ve gotten along with Dracula’s daughter, Mavis. To your pleasant surprise, she actually likes you. Sure, there was some hesitancy at first on both your ends (of course, it’s not easy to forget how your goal once was death upon the girl's father), but with time you put it in the past and really get to know each other. You know her dad sees something different in you, and soon enough it seems that she came to see it too. Mavis was a delightful and dedicated girl, and you find that you very much enjoy her company. She was there now, helping to adjust the veil that sat snugly atop your head.

You blush as you take in the rest of your attire. The white color of the outfit was nothing new to you, but what its significance meant did. For it was a wedding dress, an article of clothing that you never once fathomed wearing at any point in your life. And, much less was the thought that you would be using it to marry the one man that - only a few months prior - you had been so bent on destroying upon his first arrival aboard the Legacy. You sigh wistfully, knowing that it was all history now. You and your great-grandfather have seen the error of your ways, and learned to make amends with the monsters. Despite his strong disapproval at your relationship with the vampire before, you can see pride in his eyes as he walks - er, wheels - you down the aisle and up to the altar where your attractive groom awaits.

Everyone is there and, as weddings were of no foreign matter to the hotel, everything goes according to plan. Tears well in eyes and cheers erupt as the crowd hears the pronouncing of your union.

And it’s there, pressing your lips tenderly against the Count’s, that it is confirmed in your head once more. There's no denying it - you love him. You love his handsome pale face and that dashing smile that shows off his fangs. You love it later on that day when he runs those same fangs teasingly across your neck during what would be the first of many intimate moments together, knowing he would never use them to harm you in any way. You lay, exhausted but beyond satisfied in his strong embrace afterward, bare limbs intertwined with his as he holds you close and mumbles sweet nothings into your ear. In the midst of your delightful soreness, you grin, knowing that he loves you, too. It's crazy to think, with all that happened before that in some way led to this now. But, in pure honesty, you couldn't be more pleased.

[potteresque-ire]

This post is Part 4 of the five-part meta series on the Zhang Zhehan (張哲瀚) Incident, based on what has transpired up to 2021/08/22.

1) The 2nd Sino-Japanese War (1937-45) & the Yasukuni Shrine 2) Post-War Sino-Japanese Relations; “Every Chinese should visit the Yasukuni Shrine” 3) The Summer of 2021: The Brewing Storms for One 4) My Thoughts on Zhang’s Incident, Part A 5) My Thoughts on Zhang’s Incident, Part B

4) My Thoughts on Zhang’s Incident, Part A

Now, I’m finally going to dive into Zhang Zhehan’s incident. They’re, of course, my personal opinions, based on what’s known until 2021/08/22, and I’m talking about them not as a turtle, not as a Gg or Dd fan, not as a fan at all—but as … me. A Hong Konger, half-way American, and representative of neither.

I should start with a confession.

While, in the parts before, I wrote as if there were signs enough that I could see this coming, that I could see Zhang being handed the severe punishment that he had… I actually didn’t. I thought it would stop at People’s Daily critique of Zhang’s apology letter posted on August 13th, and Zhang would lose his endorsements, be forced to lay low for a while. I didn’t expect the all-out invisibility campaign the would happen, including the removal of his already-aired, groups projects such as Word of Honour (WoH 山河令).

Do I feel Zhang made a mistake? Absolutely. I agree with his self-assessment in his apology letter that he had been ignorant and careless. I’d add this as well: he had likely suffered from a certain degree of arrogance. When previously asked by his fans to remove from his Weibo a photo he took of a car painted in a manner reminiscent of WWII Japanese War Planes (and with a Rising Sun flag), that should’ve been a reminder, a warning enough for him to refrain from posting similar materials online. Being politically insensitive as a public figure in China is dangerous, and often costly. And one has to be really, really, insensitive politically, and very, very out of the news cycle, to be unaware of the tension in Sino-Japanese relations in the past decade, with the Yasukuni Shrine being at the epicentre of that tension.

A photo posted on Weibo by Zhang, later deleted at fans’ request and re-surfaced online during this incident (Left). The Nakajima Ki-84 fighter jet, used by the Imperial Japanese Army 1943-45 (Right). (Source)

But ignorance, carelessness and even arrogance are not crimes. These are corrigible traits; late 20’s may be not-so-young for an idol, but Zhang was young when he visited the shrine and took the photos in 2018. He’s still young now, having just reached 30, with lots of years to grow. 

From a practical standpoint, I also fail to see Zhang’s behaviour as causing more actual harm to anyone than as the Global Times Network (GTN) piece.

Zhang’s photos had never been widely circulated before the incident. The location at which they had been taken was also not obvious to those who haven’t investigated, or haven’t visited the Yasukuni Shrine. In contrast, the large quantity of photos in the GTN piece, their portrayal of the shrine’s right wing visitors, can arguably be said to be more visually offensive, if visual offensiveness is sufficient to be hurtful, if The Reporter of the GTN piece had, indeed, had his heart sunk just by the sight of the sakuras on the shrine grounds planted by the descendants and friends of those enshrined (reminder: overwhelmingly not war criminals), as he had described in the article. 

To put it in Chinese state media lingo, the GTN piece could arguably be said to have done more to 冒犯國人情感 (“offend the feelings of the country’s people”) (from People’s Daily critique piece against Zhang) and 輕佻地傷害中國人民的情感 (“flippantly hurt the feelings of the Chinese people) (from 中纪委 Central Commission for Discipline Inspection’s critique piece) than Zhang’s photos.

A thing to mention, perhaps: the phrase “hurting the feelings of Chinese people” (and its close cousins) has somewhat of a ... celebrity status among Chinese politics watchers, with ample articles and statistics dedicated to it for the sheer number of times it has appeared in China’s foreign policy materials, as well as the multi-purposeness of its application. Another example of “hurting the feelings of Chinese people”: an English Mercedes-Benz ad, posted on Instagram (a blocked site in China), featuring a quote by Dalai Lama. The phrase has become a bit of a joke in anti-CCP communities, not because the feelings of Chinese people aren’t legitimate or important, but because a regime that doesn’t allow voting, that suppresses the freedoms of speech and press, is hardly an expert on the feelings of its people.

An entertaining infographic about China’s “hurt national feelings” (high-res version). Japan has consistently ranked 1st in the number of times it has hurt China’s national feelings (upper right corner).  

And, speaking of “flippant”, I find flippant perfectly described the tone of the GTN piece, which I, as a reader of Chinese descent, was perhaps even more embarrassed by than the fact that The Reporter visited the shrine. The Reporter admitted he already had a “fight-picking heart”, had chosen to act confrontationally; the article he’d write later reflected that, was filled to the brim with bravado. However, as I mentioned before, he never did what would’ve mattered if he had elected to fight, made the cause of his troublemaking clear—he had said nothing about the war criminals, or the revisionist material in the museum. Statements of protests needn’t be physical or violent; they simply had to be communicated, and to the right audience—which doesn’t include his translator, or the staff at the Yasukuni Shrine. 

The American tourist could’ve been a potential target; wouldn’t it be interesting to find out what they knew about this piece of history, how much they knew about the controversies surrounding the shrine? But The Reporter only told them Americans were not welcomed—a statement automatically doubtful by the presence of … an American next to him. If The Reporter’s account were true, then, to the staff, the tourist who interacted with him, The Reporter behaved just like … a passive-aggressive, very rude Chinese tourist. He had scored zero victory for his cause—if he did have a cause—during his visit.

If the defence was his fight-picking heart, no one asked Zhang if he had harboured a fight-picking heart when he had visited, taken the pictures.

That’s double-standard. That’s hypocrisy.

Personally, I would’ve left out the Yasukuni Shrine from my Tokyo itinerary — as much because of the two thousand war criminals there, and the 2 million+ not-war-criminals there who deserve respect and peace. If I’m not a descendant of those enshrined there; if I’m not worshipping; if I lack deference for the shrine and the Shinto religion it represents, then, I have no business to be at the Yasukuni Shrine. 

There are beautiful sakuras all over Tokyo.

Sakuras along Tokyo’s Meguro River (Source)

Okay. Back to Zhang. I personally believe he made mistakes. Do I feel, then, that Zhang’s punishment was appropriate, or was it too much?

As someone whose family was mostly spared from the pain and suffering caused by the acts of the Imperial Japanese Army during the 1930s and 40s, I don’t think the answers to these questions are up to me to decide. It’s inappropriate for me to decide.

But I’ll follow my answer with this question: whoever are deciding now, are they the people who should be deciding, whose lives have been truly impacted by the war? Those screaming on social media that Zhang is a traitor, a 漢奸 hanjian—a term originated from the KMT and Sino-Japanese War era to refer to persons who have illicit relationships with the enemy of, specifically, the Han Chinese ethnicity—those wanting to destroy not just Zhang’s career, but Zhang himself … do they really believe visiting, taking photos at the Yasukuni Shrine are acts enough to warrant those accusations, bearing in mind that treason is, perhaps, the most unforgivable crime in China?

Is Chairman Mao, a Han Chinese, a hanjian when he thanked the Japanese prime minister? Why not? What he said could’ve been out of pragmatism, but did he hurt the feelings of the Chinese whose family had died from Japanese military brutality during the war, of the comfort women who, at the time of the meeting, were still living in significant numbers? Why, when a post quoting Mao’s words in defence of Zhang surfaced several days ago, the vast majority of online reactions was “here goes another brain-disabled fan”, until one netizen whispered it had actually been spoken by a Great Figure, without naming, without daring to name the actual speaker of the quote?

Why have those quotes been buried in the graves of the Chinese internet?

And the netizens who went on to “dig up”, spread unsubstantiated rumours about Zhang’s being 精日 (short for 精神上的日本人 “Spiritually Japanese”), being a secret right-wing Japanese, even—were they patriots or were they cyberbullys? Were they out to defend their country, or were they out there torturing someone they didn’t like for their own enjoyment? For their own potential gains?

They called Zhang a 行走的五十萬 “Walking 500,000” — the number referring to the sum of money (500,000 RMB, ~ 77,000 USD) the Chinese government rewards someone who reports, offers tip-offs on a foreign spy. If Zhang’s family happens to be Japanese too, they said, the reward could be 500,000 * n !!

An Anti-Spy Law (反間諜法) advertisement. 12339 is the phone number and website for reporting / making tip-offs on foreign spies. (Source)

One would say, of course, that these netizens were only joking.

But are jokes jokes if they can ruin someone for good? Same goes with every one who attempted to connect whoever, whatever they didn’t like with Zhang, @ ing the state agencies on the Weibo posts to call the latter’s attention to connections, wishing for the government and the platforms to remove these whoevers, whatevers along with Zhang. 

These whoevers, whatevers have included: Zhang’s former work associates; CP supertopics; Danmei and Dangai; Dangai dramas before WoH; actors involved in Dangai dramas before WoH; supertopics of these actors; the fans of these actors; fandom in general …

(To the Anon who asked: this is how the rumour that all CP supertopics may be removed came about. So far, there are no evidences that the invisibility campaign related to Zhang is heading in that direction.)

These “soft reporting” attempts—soft, in the sense that they were reporting to the state agencies, but not using the state’s formal system—conjures a scene like this in my mind: a class of small children, all with little to no power on their own, pointing their stubby fingers to whoever they don’t like in front of who they perceive as absolute authority. “But (S)HE did this!! “ screams a child who tries to borrow the teacher’s “knife” to take down their enemies, not understanding what it’ll mean to themselves if the teacher does yield to their demand, does punish their “enemies” based on their words alone: that the child can themselves will be punished when another child points their stubby fingers at them.

Perhaps, here’s the resemblance of the scene: when absolute authority exists, critical thinking tends to go wayside, even if the capability to critically think exists—because what’s the point of thinking? The opinion of the authority is the only thing that matters in the end. Mob mentality and actions take over: mobs of not only netizens, but mobs of companies, mobs of platforms.  

And so, when it rained for Zhang, it poured.

===

The Zhang Zhehan Incident Meta Series:

PART 1  PART 2 PART 3 PART 4 <- YOU ARE HERE PART 5

[ozzyscollectiblehub]

Gordie Howe: Mr. Hockey — The Legend of a Lifetime

Gordie Howe, often referred to as “Mr. Hockey,” is more than just a name in the annals of sports history; he is an embodiment of the relentless pursuit of excellence, resilience, and passion that defines the very essence of hockey. Howe’s career spanned an unprecedented five decades, making him a true legend not only in the NHL but in the world of sports.

Early Life and Entry into Hockey

Born on March 31, 1928, in Floral, Saskatchewan, Canada, Gordie Howe’s journey to becoming a hockey icon began in humble surroundings. Growing up during the Great Depression, Howe’s family struggled financially, but the icy winters of Canada provided him with the perfect environment to hone his skills. Skating on frozen ponds, Howe developed the strength and agility that would later define his playing style.

At the age of 15, Howe caught the attention of scouts from the Detroit Red Wings. His raw talent and physical presence on the ice were undeniable, and by 1946, at just 18 years old, Howe made his NHL debut with the Red Wings. It was the beginning of an era that would see him transform into one of the greatest players to ever grace the ice.

Dominance in the NHL

Gordie Howe’s career with the Detroit Red Wings is the stuff of legends. Playing for the Red Wings from 1946 to 1971, Howe became synonymous with the team’s success. He led the Red Wings to four Stanley Cup championships (1950, 1952, 1954, 1955) and was a six-time recipient of the Hart Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s most valuable player.

Howe was known for his unique combination of skill, strength, and toughness. His ability to score goals was matched only by his physical style of play. Howe could dominate in all aspects of the game — whether it was scoring, setting up teammates, or engaging in the rough-and-tumble physicality that was common in the NHL at the time. The “Gordie Howe Hat Trick,” which consists of a goal, an assist, and a fight in the same game, became a testament to his all-around capabilities.

His longevity in the sport is another testament to his greatness. Howe played 1,767 regular-season games in the NHL, a record that stood for decades until it was broken by another legend, Patrick Marleau, in 2021. Even in his later years, Howe was a force to be reckoned with, often outperforming players half his age.

The WHA and a New Chapter

When Gordie Howe retired from the NHL in 1971, many believed it was the end of an era. However, Howe wasn’t finished with hockey. In 1973, he made a surprising comeback, joining the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association (WHA), where he played alongside his sons, Mark and Marty. This move not only prolonged his career but also allowed Howe to share the ice with his family, creating a unique chapter in hockey history.

Howe’s presence in the WHA was transformative for the league. He won two MVP awards and helped elevate the level of competition, making the WHA a viable alternative to the NHL. Howe’s return to the NHL in 1979 with the Hartford Whalers at the age of 51 added to his already legendary status. His final NHL season saw him play in all 80 games, showcasing his enduring durability and passion for the sport.

Legacy and Impact on Hockey

Gordie Howe’s impact on hockey is immeasurable. He finished his career with 801 goals, a record that stood until Wayne Gretzky, a player who idolized Howe, surpassed it in 1994. Howe’s total of 1,850 points remains among the highest in NHL history, a testament to his scoring ability and longevity.

Beyond the numbers, Howe’s influence extends to the way the game is played. He was a pioneer in integrating skill with physicality, proving that a player could be both a scorer and an enforcer. His sportsmanship, work ethic, and humility off the ice made him a beloved figure across the hockey world.

Howe’s contributions to hockey were recognized with numerous accolades, including his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972. The NHL’s annual “Gordie Howe International Bridge” award, given to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey, is named in his honor.

Personal Life and Legacy Beyond the Ice

Gordie Howe’s life was not only defined by his achievements on the ice but also by his dedication to his family and community. Howe was married to his beloved wife, Colleen, for over 50 years until her passing in 2009. Together, they raised four children, and Howe remained actively involved in charitable work, particularly in supporting Alzheimer’s research after Colleen was diagnosed with the disease.

Howe’s death on June 10, 2016, was met with an outpouring of tributes from around the world. Fans, players, and coaches alike reflected on the immense impact he had on the sport and on their lives.

Gordie Howe’s legacy is not just one of records and championships, but of a life dedicated to the love of the game. He was a player who transcended generations, inspiring countless others to lace up their skates and pursue their dreams on the ice. As “Mr. Hockey,” Gordie Howe will forever be remembered as a giant of the sport, whose impact will be felt for generations to come.

[caguaydreams]

A thorough analysis on why Vah Medoh’s dungeon theme makes me want to cry

Yep, that’s an accurate title. Hi there! do you have a moment to hear about Breath of The Wild soundtrack? posting for yet a third time in hopes that tumblr won't hide it. I'm so tired

What started as a quick and harmless post, pretending to simply point out a couple of things, rolled downhill, out of my grasp and turned into a massive snowball of a short essay. How and why did this happen? Well, I assume a lot of people know about this song, and know what I’m talking about when I say that it makes me tear up and sob uncontrollably with every change in key as the seconds tick by and I spiral down into a dwell of misery from where I struggle to find the exit and to later recover.

……No?…..At the VERY LEAST it makes you a little uncomfortable. And I state this with much certainty, because after reading hundreds of comments everywhere online where this song is present, I picked up on a vast majority of people who expressed to feel the same way I did when it came down to our current music subject. See, statistics don’t lie… normally. So, naturally, my intrigue got the best of me. I wanted to find out exactly why this soundtrack was mercilessly stirring up everyone’s emotions, so I caved in and we ended up with this.

Buckle in, fellas.

Out of all Divine Beasts’ dungeon themes, Vah Medoh’s is the one that I can’t sit through. Not without growing antsy and wanting to turn it off as soon as possible. I find it genuinely difficult to listen to, and it’s not only because Revali is my favorite character and the song is just, plainly put, depressing, mind you.

We’ll start from 0 terminals activated.

It opens up similar to the other three dungeon themes; the pace is slow but eerie, gives off the impression that it sounds broken somehow. Something is off here, and it’s easy to figure out what that is from the get go: you’re basically entering a majestic, ancient, mechanical mausoleum, where everything went terribly wrong a century ago. Someone is gone, someone you knew, someone who was probably close to you, but it’s impossible to be sure. You don’t remember a thing, and this entire ordeal is confusing at best, and terrifying at worst. It’s your duty to make things right again.

It’s the same for all four Divine Beasts upon entering, save for the obvious little differences that separates them from each other and make them unique. Ruta’s is played on a major key, adhering to a sense of hopefulness. Naboris’s begins with a startling smashing of the piano keys, much like thunder of a sudden lighting strike. And Rudania’s theme starts threatening, dangerous, like scalding lava.

But now, back to Vah Medoh. The tone here is… alienating. The dissonant chords are all over the place, and feel disconnected, cold. It’s almost as if someone doesn’t want us to be here, or just like the elusive key, our presence is unexpected. Fitting, for a Divine Beast that’s high above the land, impossible for most to reach, yet we somehow made it. Apart from the piano, we have the occasional hint to rito culture, in the shape of a short, synthetic version of the rolled chords at the very beginning of Rito Village. A quiet reminder of where we come from. There is also, of course, the morse code distress signal, but we’ll talk more about that later.

As soon as this formal introduction is over, we finally get to the more, say, intimate stuff. Oh, and wouldn’t you know, it’s just tragic.

One terminal activated.

There’s no better short way I can describe this passage, other than anxiety-inducing. Especially when the strings come into play, and there’s two reasons I can think of why I feel this is an important thing to point out:

1- Characters and Symbolism.

I tend to associate stringed instruments, all of those which compose the violin family, with rito culture. And Revali, most specifically. In Creating a Champion we can see the early concept art and designs for all or most major characters in the game, and Revali’s highlighted rough design might be the one that changed the most throughout proper development of the character, out of all champions. He looks quite different from our usual depiction of him, it’s fascinating. What truly catches my eye, however, is the design of his bow.

You thought bird puns were bad? Oh boy, how do you feel about Revali having a bow that looks like a violin/cello/viola??? And do you need a bow to play it also??? Like, is it even an instrument or it’s nothing more than a mere fashion statement?-

Anyway. I believe this was originally going to be a not-so-subtle wink to rito culture, being heavily musically inclined as we can see and conclude for ourselves. Perhaps Revali was going to be a musician as well, now how cool it that!

Needless to say, the idea was eventually scrapped. But one detail I am CERTAIN carried over to the character we know and love today(okay not all of us love him but seriously if you dislike him why are you still here lol): strings. The association between bows(weapon) and stringed instruments, aside from being a quite clever and creative one, goes beyond the concept art and remains strong as part of Revali’s character, settling for having a presence via score. After all, Revali is a master of archery, so in that way it makes sense to keep strings as symbolism to reinforce the idea and drive it home.

But can you guess what other thing Revali excels at? That’s right: flying. He’s the only rito we know of who successfully managed to take advantage of wind currents and bend them to his will. And do you know what musical instruments are often used to evoke the feeling of flight and gale? If you thought of bowed strings, you’re correct! Unfortunately, I couldn’t find much support on this topic online, so you’ll have to take my word for it. I am most certain that this is fact, although not something worth discussing on the Internet, by the looks of it.

Anyhow, violins/cellos/etc are ever-present whenever we’re close to Rito Village or dealing with a rito related mission. Attack on Vah Medoh, for example, features a sequence of strings that is meant to evoke the strong winds we’re fighting against in that particular moment(*). Another great example is The Final Trial, the song that plays at the shrine of resurrection nearing the end of the Champions’ Ballad. Preceding the activation of each terminal, you’ll notice that a new instrumental element joins the crowd: the first one corresponds to the tambourines, related to the zora and Mipha; the second one are strings, referencing the rito and Revali, etc. I tell you, the moment I heard this during the trial I almost started crying like a baby. And, although strings have a lot to do with Rito culture in general, they tie most strongly to Revali, since he was the champion of his people, and his legacy carried over throughout the years. His accomplishments became material of folk tale, a legend, a source of pride and inspiration for the village. And let’s not forget that, at the end of the day, Revali is the crucial and foremost connection Link has to this place. Other than appeasing Vah Medoh, Link’s responsibility here is to free his past fellow champion’s spirit from Ganon’s malice. The soundtrack is referencing Revali first, and by extension his devotion to his home.

With all that in mind, let’s move on to our next point:

2- Nowhere to Go.

You shoot the canons, land on top of the Divine Beast, do what you gotta do, activate the first terminal and the soundtrack goes off unannounced. Like some sort of surprise anxiety bomb. The rhythm turns fast, the melody erratic, incredibly desperate in its execution. There’s this sheer despair, fear, this feeling of suffocation almost, which are so well achieved in this particular piece.

And that is, partially, because a quite familiar resource is used here as well; one that we’ve heard before in songs such as Rito Village or Revali’s theme. You could even think of it as a motif: two notes are played in an semitone interval, repeatedly and in quick succession. For the sake of later convenience, we’ll call this the Flight Motif, now let me explain why. In Breath of The Wild, this semitone loop is often followed up by some form of resolution. In Rito Village, formerly known as Dragon Roost Island(**), that resolution consists of a graceful descent of the melody, from a high that was built up previously during the motif. On the other hand, if you listen to Revali’s theme, you’ll notice that the interval repeats itself for a couple of times as thought charging up, to then rise fast and determined into a triumphal reprise of Revali’s distinctive assigned melody. This juxtaposition supposes the difference that lays between common rito flight and Revali’s trademark ability; both musical sequences are speaking of flight, albeit in two different languages depending on the way to achieve it. While the rito traditionally use their wings to glide and let themselves get swayed by the air currents Buzz Lightyear style, Revali takes full advantage of his flying capabilities to somehow create an updraft of his own, rising meters above the ground whenever he likes or needs to.

So, now that I layed out my base of thought when focusing on the strings, this’ll be much easier to explain. We’ve settled what the instruments themselves are a symbolic representation of Revali, in this scenario specifically. He was the only one inside Vah Medoh, and the score is, in a way, a retelling of what we can vaguely assume went down here during the Great Calamity, as much as it is what sets the tone and ambience for Link’s mission. But what are we hearing exactly? What we talked about, the Flight Motif, is being repeated nonstop. And that’s the thing, remember how I mentioned that this sequence usually finds resolution at the end? Well. Inside Vah Medoh,… it never does. The melody picks up in numerous occasions, but it’s not nearly as graceful, or calculated, as we’ve grown used to by now. It gets tangled and lost, and then inevitably falls to the ground in disarray. The pattern repeats itself, reaching higher after a handful of failed attempts, but no matter how much it tries, the cycle never ends. What used to tell us about flying and freedom in the skies, has morphed into an almost sinister musical incarnation of a tornado, and there is no way out of this trap. What do you think it must feel like to mindlessly flap your wings against wind currents so strong and violent, that it is impossible to get anywhere nearby, let alone take off every time you lose your balance. Or every time you’re shot down. On top of that, trying to aim and fight back in whatever short breaks and opportunities you get, at an enemy that’s much more powerful and relentless, who’s using your own element as a weapon to destroy you… it’s a risk Revali surely had to take in order to put up a fight. Even knowing full well that the odds were not in his favour, that he was most likely going to lose this battle, that he was going to die. Let that sink in. I’ll skip the activation of the second terminal, since there’s barely any change registered in the theme in general. So-

Three terminals activated.

I know this post is supposed to be a breakdown of the song purely, but that doesn’t mean there’s no place for a little theorising, and the following scrutiny is also quite relevant for our discussion. Bear with me for a bit. I’ve read almost everywhere about people’s most common interpretations on the Divine Beasts SOS signals, and how everyone thinks that Revali’s coming in last (a few seconds later than the other champions) has to do with him holding on for longer. Or, also, overconfident as he was, it means that the idea of calling out for additional support didn’t cross his mind until it was too late, and that’s why the beeping sounds more frantic and panicked than the others’ when it does appear. After giving it some thought myself, I’m betting on the latter option holding more ground, and that’s not all. I want to touch upon a detail of the piece that I never acknowledged was there until very recently(after seeing myself obliged to listen to this song fully and a handful of times, suffering every minute of it for the sole purpose of this analysis. It’s okay I didn’t need my heart anyway). Soon after activating the third terminal, the SOS signal disappears, or grows distant and faint enough that we can’t make it out from the background anymore. In its place, we’re confronted by this… shrill, piercing and painfully slow tune. It sounds synthetic, artificial, devoid of life. And it’s funny, because you know what it reminds me of? I’ll tell you:

A heartbeat flatline sound.

And I want to highlight that this doesn’t happen in any of the other Divine Beasts themes. All their SOS signals carry on, but Medoh’s is no more. This abrupt stop, followed by this bone-chilling tune…. makes me believe that Revali was the first of the champions to fall. A few days ago I came across SuperZeldaGirl’s video on a similar topic, theorising that this could very much be the case. There is not much evidence to support this claim other than some visual cues that could be suggesting to it, but after I found this in the soundtrack, and if we’re to rely on it for anything, I believe Revali was either the first champion to be ambushed by Ganon, or well…. the first to be killed. It is plausible, because short after Calamity Ganon unleashes his power, Revali parts from the group and flies directly to Vah Medoh, and he very well could’ve been the first pilot to arrive.

On this note…. we’ll have to wait and see for ourselves, when Age of Calamity provides long-awaited answers to many of our questions.

Four terminals activated.

An interesting melody is being played on what, for me, would qualify as a glockenspiel or a celesta, which are keyboard based instruments that produce a sound similar to that of a music box(***). If you want to pay more attention to it, I suggest listening to Vetrom’s Instrumental Mix Cover of the theme, where they practically zoom in on this part of the song (keep in mind that it uses the All Terminals’ time signature so it’s being played faster). For some reason, this particular addition makes me feel profound empathy. The sound of this instrument could be described as cute or childlike, magical, even. It is more often than not used to represent innocence, but I highly doubt that’s specifically the intention here. Much like the leading strings’ melody, the melodic contour of this one is trapped in a loop of going up and down constantly, but the difference is that this time around it sounds more under control. And much more uniform too. It doesn’t lose focus or takes risky, fruitless leaps, but rather chooses to stay on a path of waves that consistently rises and falls without taking detours. Like a determined battle strategy, giving it your all. You fall, but get back up again, and try again, and again. It reminds me of Revali’s approach to training, being persistent to the point of overworking himself. He had discipline nailed down to a tee, which I also think served him well in combat. It’s not just about being hard on yourself, either, but being confident and having complete faith in your abilities; believing that you’ll make it.  For this to appear now, that the SOS signal is almost completely gone, is significant because it means that by this point, being so close to success on Link’s behalf, the music is sparing genuine encouragement for once, in spite of the tragic outcome of the past and the danger of the current situation. But, in all honesty, this is probably just me reading too much into it. Perhaps the composer just thought this addition sounded pretty bitching and there’s not much else to it, which is completely fine. Although, intentional or not, sometimes coincidences do happen, and at the end of the day, interpretations like this are a form of appreciation for an artist’s work and for what they can unknowingly accomplish.

All terminals activated.

This is the moment when the song finally lightens up. Notice how the strings abandon the wave pattern for a more even contour. The beat quickens, the melody stabilizes. At first I thought, coming from our flight analogy, that this meant a cease in movement entirely, and it was partly one of the reasons why the song in general makes me anxious. But thinking about it now, …there is something different going on here. The strings are playing on a steady rhythm. It resembles a march, it’s like a pounding heart. It’s a lively, hopeful statement. And what’s interesting is that, up until this point, there was so much fear and helplessness present in the score, even going as far as to reach a dead end when we activate the third terminal. But that’s it, isn’t it? the music just keeps going further. 

It’s saying: this isn’t over yet. Even after complete and utter defeat, there’s still hope and an underlying wish to overcome this predicament, and we started to hear this as soon as a fourth terminal is activated. The melody we previously talked about? it’s here as well, and its beat is much more daring and confident.

And I just want to say… this is so powerful. Because this sentiment is deeply tied to the game’s story and Revali’s character arc. You see, he is introduced as someone who resents Link for being the manifestation of his failure, in a way, because Revali has trained arduously his whole life to be where he is, to be recognised. And yet… this hylian gets chosen by a magic sword and some tale of divine destiny and, apparently, that’s all it takes for him to be deemed the hero that will save the land. In Revali’s eyes, Link has done nothing to prove his worth before him, so it is easy to see why he despises the silent knight so much; he is yet another individual that was born into their destiny. Meanwhile, Revali has had to build his reputation from the ground up, earning him a place among the greatest warriors of Hyrule, and even then he finds himself surrounded by people who grew up praised for being born gifted.  We can see how Revali is the odd one out, and can map out the reason for him acting so antagonistic towards Link.

But once we’re on Medoh, things start to change. When Link enters the Divine Beast, Revali greets him with disdain, as per usual. Of course, Link has no recollection of whatever happened a hundred years ago, other than a small glimpse of the rito champion talking down to him, a memory that came and went in a flash. So as Link, we more than expect Revali to act cold and mocking, which he does. He provides us with as little help as needed in order to free Medoh, reluctantly, shielding his wounded pride over having to wait for Link, of all people, to come to their rescue. But you can hear him starting to open up bit by bit(I wish I could translate his dialogue directly from Japanese but I’ll make do with a couple of dubs and other numerous sources from translators online). With each little step Link takes towards success, activating the terminals, the perception Revali has of him shifts from one of resentment to one of genuine admiration and respect. By the end of it all, he is willing to not only cheer on Link during the boss battle, but to trust him with his life’s worth achievement. And once left alone, he admits defeat and lets go of his bitterness, realising that he was wrong to underestimate Link, and later wishes he could’ve had a chance to measured up to him. To take all of this into consideration and work with it in the soundtrack I think it’s genuinely splendid. And for once, I am grateful that it ends in somewhat of a positive note that puts my soul to rest. I still have a hard time listening to the first two thirds of the entire thing, but now I can look forward to a hopeful and earnestly heartening conclusion for all the pain that this composition puts me in. I must admit that it’s beautifully and brilliantly crafted, and that I am enamoured of it regardless.

That is why I wrote roughly 4k words about it! I hate myself!

If you’re as crazy as me about the soundtrack of this game, I recommend you read the published cd interview with the composers themselves! if you haven’t already. I just found it yesterday(unbelievable but it’s true) and… after writing all of this and checking it out, I felt validated. It sure is a one of a kind feeling. 

Alright folks, we’ve made it to the end. Congratulations for sticking around and thanks being interested in my nonsensical rambling! 

I also hope that you, like me, will now be unable to listen to bowed strings without being reminded of Revali. Good luck!

————– Annotations/Sidenotes/Whatever

(*)The Flight Motif(in point number 2) is also present in this track. We can hear it in the background right after the Rito leitmotif, as per usual. It starts with a clarinet, I think, before the strings take the lead. (**) Note that the Flight Motif only comes into play in the Breath of The Wild rendition of the song. (***)I strongly associate this instrument with Mipha, given that it is used in her theme, in every “response” to the initial melody. It can be heard in Attack On Vah Ruta, as well, it enters the scene when the notes Mi(E) and Fa(F) are played. The initial tune, Si and Do(B and C) are played on a clarinet or oboe, wind instruments just like the flute that leads Sidon’s respective theme. The celesta can also be heard inside Vah Ruta, activating the first terminal…. when the song really takes a turn just like Medoh’s. Mipha has nothing to do with the song of this analysis, however. We must understand that instruments, although they are attached to characters/various story elements in some cases, can always be used outside of that context, for that is the nature of an orchestral soundtrack. If you have this many tools at your disposal, you will make good use of them.

[everafterkeiji]

Song: Paper Rings by Taylor Swift

Summary: Hanamaki finally seals your fate by proposing to you- with a crappy ring that is.

Pairings: Takahiro Hanamaki x fem! reader

Word count: 6.9k

Genre: absolute fluff and crack, curse words

A/N: not me screaming when i had this idea, I've never felt more single in my life- brb bawling my eyes out- also let's pretend their in the same classes✋

Well, fate isn't something to be entirely trusted upon and neither should Hanamaki.

"Aw, shit."

He cusses when you bump into him, considering his incredibly tall figure, you were caught off guard on who you even crashed into. A small clink sound lands on the floor as you immediately face the boy who was looking at the ground, quite weirdly searching his pockets.

"Sorry- wait you're Hanamaki right?" You asked him, familiar with his hair color. You've seen him play countless of times due to the support of the school for each of their games yet you've never been this close with him. With his state, you immediately question what's got him so frantic.

He eyes the pen that was dead on the floor and he pouts before crouching down to reach it before he dusts off the dirt on it. He opens the cap of it before mindlessly writing on his hand and frowning even more when the ink didn't held its usual consistency- every stroke of a word had it loosing its pigment.

"Man, 'Kawas gonna kill me." He sighs before putting his hands and pen in his pocket as he looks at you surprised. How can he dismiss that he'd bump into you? He immediately bows in a way to apologize to you, completely forgetting that you were the one to hit him.

You knew he was pertaining to the well known setter but you were solely confused in what he was so worried about. Looking at the pen in his pocket, you saw how the ink was full but there were black spillage in the inside. You raise your eyebrow in confusion.

Did he just drop a new pen?

"I'm sorry I dropped your pen- I can let you borrow mine." You propose to him as he takes the pen in his hands admiring it like a wound in someone's arm. Seeing how you were scrambling in your bag to reach for your pencil case, his eyes sparkled at how it contained numerous pens, highlighters and mechanical pencils.

"Looking at the murder you caused, I'm simply asking for more than one pen then."

You tilt your head in curiosity but instead you opened your pencil case as he digs his hand in there picking three pens making you want to scoff at how he picked the gel pens that were your favorite. He looked at each one, writing on his palm if everything was working. He raises an eyebrow at you making you question if this was a fever dream because of how random it was- he acted like he was in a stationary section and it benefitted him that this particular section was free.

He then takes your hand causing you to internally yelp at his actions. Your eyes trail to what he was writing, you noticed it was his name instead. You look up at him as he smiled. Once he finishes writing, he extends his hand out while with the other hand held a pen ready for you to take.

"What's your name?" He asks processing on your features and asking himself why he's seen you dozens of times yet he's yet to get your name.

"Y/N." You say as he gestures for his hand as if telling you to write it. Somewhat following your instincts, you write your name on his hand. After it, he peeks the spelling of it and then casually shakes your hand as introduction.

"See you around, Y/N! You saved my ass with those pens so I guess I owe you one."

"Those are expensive."

"Now hold on there-"

That was how you met and the universe couldn't even joke about how they put you two together.

Now here you two are, invested in a stare off as Matsukawas sleepy eyes often switch his gaze between you and his best friend.

"Makki, it's in a week."

"I specifically remember it's the week after that."

"You two are hopeless." Issei comments making you laugh as Makki pouts at how you agreed with him. Nevertheless, Matsukawa leans his head on his arm ready to fall asleep at any moment. You return to arranging your notes while Makki twirls a pen in his hands while glancing at you once in a while.

Truth be told, it seems that fate still worked its way to the both of you. Ever since your-rather unique- encounter, a friendship was bound to happen. He surely made an impression on you and how could you miss to not be around him? Soon enough, you were also introduced to his teammates and you disliked how it strengthened your bond with him. There was comfort in his presence and to see him fool around with his teammates always radiated an amazing energy between you and him.

You also wanted to thank Oikawa for being somewhat the reason your conversation led to where you are now.

"What'd the pen do to make you this- scared?" You asked as he puts both hands behind his head, leaning on the seat.

"It's a scary pen when it belongs to Oikawa." You turn to him confused as you rest your chin on the palm of your hand, ears perking up at how interesting it was.

"You're telling me you don't own a single pen and you always borrow Oikawas?" He scoffs with a smile before looking at you.

"Of course I bring pens, it's just better if it was from him." You let out a loud laugh, finding it hard to believe this was the sole reason Oikawa would commit murder on him. Hanamaki smiles at the sound of your laugh before shaking his head, at awe at the situation.

It was a coincidence how Oikawa always found a way to strike a nerve to Hanamaki when you visit them in the gym. He knew that beyond his teammates calm composure was a boy who undoubtedly likes you. Ever since Hanamaki returned the pen to him, he knew it wasn't his and in his mind, he asked himself who could've lent him a pen, more so that he had three brand new ones.

So when he sees you tagging beside him, he's taken his first lead to figure the two of you out. After a few more observations, he's convinced that you two were just blind to the feelings that were lingering around.

He's told Iwaizumi about it but all he got was a lecture on how he should let Hanamaki take it easy with asking you out. Which he also argued since it was taking too long, making Iwaizumi land him a smack to the head.

He had his boundaries, maybe not for himself, but for his friends he was more than willing to wait for this relationship to come together.

-

"So- a date? That's cool right? I mean arcades and shit."

"Makki, you're a loser."

"Arcades are awesome shut up."

"Yeah, for sure. Like Y/N is interested in 'arcades and shit'." Mattsun chuckles as Hanamaki lets out another pout as he sinks in his bed.

"I mean- we've gone on hang outs, she likes them anyway!" He argues making Mattsun shake his head with an amused smirk on his lips.

"So you're telling me you've actually had dates with her then?" Issei asks as Hanamaki shrugs making the other boy groan at the lack of response. Hanamaki raises his head, pursing his lips at the actual thought.

You have actually gone on multiple dates with him. If you could even call it that. To Makki, he thought they were just subtle friendly things but he realizes how he's actually grown some fondness in each place.

"Y/N no I'm telling you- if I were the mastermind, we'd be successful." He argues before taking a sip from his drink. You rolled your eyes as you let your mind ran through the scenarios of having a heist with him and the boys.

You two just finished a heist movie and now you had to endure Makkis fantasies of how it would go down if the characters were him and the rest of the volleyball team. He was so invested in it that you actually had an entire plot and characterization for each teammate.

He argued that he'd be the best mastermind to ever conjure a plan for a heist. A stealthy ninja is what he says he mimics. You tried to argue that Iwaizumi would be good at it, since you noticed how responsible and at control he was but it had Hanamaki listing his reasons.

"No one would ever notice me! Because you know what- their attention would be on Oikawa! Then boom, get in the getaway car with a shit ton of money and thanks to who? Me of course." You let out a laugh making him stop his occupied thoughts to take a look at you. He adores the sound of it too much, especially since he was the usual cause of it. He sees the way you were wiping your eyes with the scenarios he'd told you.

Then your laughter slowly fades when you started to eat again as Makki admires you and how you've effortlessly got his mind to set more dates just to see you this happy.

You look up from your previous position, looking at him with an eyebrow raised.

"Wait, where am I in the heist then?"

He looks at you, almost blurting out the initial idea he had for you in this specific role.

Honestly, I'd spend the money on you. Take you anywhere you wanted to go, Y/N.

That was what he wanted to say but his mouth translated it to a different saying.

"You could die-"

"Makki!" You shouted playfully, ruffling his hair. He laughs but unknowingly, his hand lands on top of yours when you sat back down.

"Excuse you, I can be a good distraction and assistance for action." You commented making him scoff.

"Yeah like you'd be able to hold a gun for a second."

"Please, I had Oikawa beg me to delete a photo of him."

"Okay maybe you are powerful."

You laughed once again, not even feeling how right it was for you to be holding hands like this. It felt comforting yet it brought your heart to speed up like it was in a marathon. You wondered if Makki felt the same, or was this another act of friendliness?

"I wouldn't want you to get hurt though." He whispers, making you smile and blush at the same time. As if it was another point on the score board for how many times he's had your heart go on a frenzy.

"Well, that's what the great mastermind is for right? To keep us safe and succeed?" You say, making him give a gentle squeeze to your hand, as you glanced down on them enjoying the way it looked.

As if I'm gonna let anyone lay a hand on you, Y/N. You're safe with me always.

After a few sly times where he'd hold your hand while you crossed the street or even tugging on your jacket when passing through a huge crowd so he doesn't lose you, he's realized he would absolutely drop the stars for you. He doesn't know whether he should feel terrified because of how he could put your friendship at risk but then he feels- almost relieved that the first person he could ever love is you.

It shouldn't even be difficult to ask you to hang out. You'd usually respond a second after he asks you, it's not even that big of a deal.

Now it's different.

He's finally gotten a clutch on his feelings and he thinks about his next moves. He often just let things happen, loving the way the moments just flowed naturally and perfect in some way but now he's choosing his words since he didn't plan on confessing in such a dorky way- especially when he just says it out loud without proper practice.

"Why don't you ask Oikawa for help then?" Issei suggests making the boy shake his head at the thought already.

"Do you know how much blackmail that idea comes with? He'll never live it down." Hanamaki says as he scrolled through his phone, almost frowning at the thought of humiliation coming from their captain.

"C'mon! He knows a lot of shit about flirting and dates! Maybe even help you in confessing, idiot."

He thinks about that deeply. Each member of the team would have completely diverse answers. As of the mean time, the only proper suggestions he'd get is from Iwaizumi, Oikawa and Mattsun. Though Mattsun has given him plenty of advices, he knew Oikawa was at the top for someone's idea of romance. The man has fangirls, he's obviously heard and experienced many hopeless romantic scenes in his life.

Iwaizumi would've actually been a lot of help knowing the guy is very good at maintaining control and responsibility. He'd give the proper date ideas, the mood to set. He looked like the perfect blueprint for Hanamaki to copy. He also believed that Iwaizumi would think nothing of these advices so it's a win-win if you ask him.

"Right, okay. I got this."

-

"Why me though?" Iwaizumi asks as Hanamaki spikes another ball.

"Look Iwa- I genuinely trust your judgment more. I just need help." Iwaizumi chuckles before collecting another ball.

"Fine fine. Just meet me after practice."

Hanamaki cheers when he hears him, even smiling now that he can figure out a way to show you how much he likes you.

Sure, he's doing it unintentionally sometimes. Tiny signs that should show you how he is absolutely in love with you. He'd show this in various ways as well. It comes as an instinct in some way. He'd hit you with a "let's have lunch" and you'd gladly accept. Mattsun has pointed out that Makki has already made a move on you countless of times but it had Makki questioning the depths of being friendly and going through courting you.

You haven't even made things official yet these so-called dates had your classmates wondering how your relationship started, even if it hasn't. Makki would always lean his head on your shoulder during lunch, to rest his brain from the lessons. For you, it's nothing. Makki has always been like this after you got comfortable with each other. This affectionate side of him even had Mattsun wonder why on Earth would he ask for help when he clearly doesn't need it.

The three of you are now seated in a lecture, boredom crossing your minds but Mattsun's mind was rattled by Hanamaki. After their conversation about asking help from Oikawa, he thought that Makki would actually go through the plan. Looking back on his motives with you, he just doesn't see a reason why he needs assistance from the setter. He can handle this all on his own, so scribbling down on a piece of paper, he throws it to Hanamaki who awakens by the action.

Hanamaki yawns as he opens the crumpled paper, his eyes widening and cheeks heating at the group of words.

'You can literally just confess to her now, even without shittykawa.'

He glares at Mattsun while the other boy shrugs with an expression that says "seriously, it's not that deep." He huffs before grabbing a pen and replying to his previous statement, then throwing it again.

'Try confessing to the girl you like during a lecture, Sherlock.'

Mattsun chuckles as Makki crosses his arms in front of his chest. His eyes land on you, who is fixated on the lecture. He smiles softly at the idea of a date with you, but this faint moment was ruined when Mattsun directly throws the ball of paper to Hanamakis face, earning a chuckle from some of his classmates.

He opens with eyebrows furrowed, annoyed at the shot.

'Not now dumbass, after classes. Just go up to her and say you like her, it's that easy dude.'

Hanamaki turns to him mocking his words while Mattsun rolls his eyes as Makki writes again. As he was about to throw the paper in Mattsuns direction, a student raised their hand hitting the paper and it suddenly landed on the floor beside you instead. The boys had their eyes widen as you saw the paper.

In a flash, Hanamaki picks up the piece of paper before you could grab a hold of it and you let out a gasp when he suddenly appeared in front of you. You blinked at him as he slowly walked away, wide eyed, to avoid conflict with the teacher.

You and Mattsun share a look together as you looked away, utterly speechless at what just happened. When you looked away, Mattsun hides his laughter by stuffing his face in his arm as Makkis cheeks never grew out of its red shade.

Meanwhile, Mattsun finally held a memory that he can never forget.

-

"It's not a big deal. You guys have been friends for so long. I don't think Y/N would mind." Iwaizumi comments making Hanamaki silent.

Can you really feel the same way?

A year of knowing you- should that be enough to fall in this deep? Is there even a requirement before someone can confess? Because in a span of time knowing you, there wasn't a moment where he regretted anything. He could thank the universe for one stupid pen, maybe even Oikawa. Everything that led to where you are now, he's never been more contented in his life.

During movies, your favorite spot was to lean your head on his shoulder. To just sling your arm around his waist on the way home, holding his hand while walking through crowds, it just fits. No matter where you were, what you were doing with him, it seemed like there wasn't an extra space in the puzzle pieces, it all connected.

But you two couldn't figure it out for yourselves.

"Well, does every confession need some sort of grand gesture?" He asks Iwaizumi. The ace bites his lips before kicking a rock on the path he was walking on.

"I don't really know. What does Y/N like anyway?"

"Hopefully me." Hanamaki jokes, but he deeply wanted it to be real. He figures if all of this asking for help was going to guarantee him something good, better yet, a yes from your lips. But first, he had to answer Iwaizumis question.

"She likes simple things- you know how she likes it when I like hold her stuff and all? She also likes those weird food thingys at one date-or hang out we had- you know that scent that reminds you of a romance movie-"

"Makki, you know her this well and you're nervous for nothing. I'm sure that she'll love whatever you do- you're friends for a reason." Iwaizumi says making Hanamaki sigh, hearing those words again.

"Exactly! That's the problem. Fuck- I can't even act like I don't like her. Am I being too obvious or friendly? I don't know where the line ends or starts. I shouldn't get nervous cause it's her- she doesn't care what I do- she's happy with whatever but I just want it to be.. perfect." He rants and ends it with a tired sigh. God, he was getting frustrated. At this point his feelings were overwhelming him, he just needed an outlet for it.

He can't just act like the sight of your smile doesn't make him smile as well, or even just seeing your sleepy state when you walk into class. If his heart didn't flutter whenever you were around, maybe by then you couldn't call it admiration but he just fell and there wasn't a way to stop him.

He didn't wanna stop either.

-

"Mattsun." You say as Mattsun lets out another laugh as you roll your eyes. It was after practice and since Takahiro couldn't walk you home because he told you he had to talk to Iwaizumi about something, Issei was the one to walk you home.

"This is gold." He states making you shove him a bit. He smiles when he sees you pout. This is where he decides. He could literally say how Hanamaki was asking him for advices like you are right now, but a side of him just wants to see what Makki could do. It was all too funny for him, even if hated how oblivious you two were.

If Hanamaki was falling for you with each day, you did the same. It was inescapable. You met him during second year and the fact that he had you tugging on your heart strings, it was something you can't ignore.

"What exactly are you doing?"

"I'm studying, 'Hiro. What's up?" You asked him as he raised an eyebrow at you. You stopped writing to look at him fully.

"We're at a mall." He states like you didn't know. It was bizarre to go to a mall cafe and your purpose was to study when you were with the spontaneous Hanamaki. That's on you for getting distracted on your strict teachers subject.

"Yes, Makki. I know that." He lets out a pft then takes the notebook of yours, closing it. Even putting on the caps of your pens and placing them back in your pen pouch. He also grabs your bag and placing all of those items inside.

You didn't stop him though. You've had enough with 'studying either way'. You'd die if saw how you weren't even taking notes, you were actually writing about how beautiful his eyes were. You were just purely lucky that he didn't care what you were writing because he thought it was about school.

"Happy now?" You asked him as he nods with a childish grin.

"Super. Let's go, cutie." Your eyes widened with his statement so you turn your head away to sling the backpack on your shoulder but he stops you before you could.

He removes his hoodie and hands it to you, making you stare at him.

"What for?"

"It's hot- well duh it's cold, Y/N. C'mon I wanna go to cinema. " He says nonchalantly as you take the hoodie and wear it. What causes you to stop midway was when he pulled down your blouse to prevent it from rising up when you wore his jacket. After placing your arms in, you blushed at minimal gesture.

It made Hanamaki let out a cough, when he did it like a reflex, not even thinking about it.

"Cutie huh?" You teased making him roll his eyes, though he was thankful that you broke the silence.

"Yeah no shut it."

There were many more memories that could list out why you liked him but maybe they just held the same reason.

"Leave him a note then if you can't say it in person." Mattsun suggests, even though he wishes he could've said something else. He doesn't know if that was a good suggestion or not. This could ruin whatever Makki was planning on doing. He should ask him about his plan later on so he can tell you what not to do in order for his best friend to succeed.

You reached the front of your house as you gave Issei a hug, to thank him. He pats your hair as your pull away from him.

"Hey, you've got this. It's you and Makki." He says smiling, assuring you. You nod at him as you sent a wave, him doing the same then walking away.

When you entered your room, your phone rang. Seeing Makkis name light up your room had you answering it in a heartbeat.

"Makki, what's up?"

"Hey, I just called to say I'm sorry I couldn't walk you home today. " He says running his fingers through his hair. He did want to walk with you but he trusted Mattsun. He couldn't waste the time Iwaizumi gave him for advice.

"It's fine, 'Hiro. Mattsun and I are fine." He smiles at what you said, while you left your phone on the nightstand you decided to change out of your uniform. While Makki decides on what to say next.

"Hey Y/N?" He calls for you, once you were done dressing up, you took the phone lying down on your bed.

"Yeah?"

"Wanna go out, for real this time?"

"I'm gonna go sleep." He says, biting his tongue, despising how he couldn't say it. He hears you yawn on the other end of the line.

"That's a lie but night Makki Makki!" You said chuckling as his ears turned red at the nickname. He shakes his head with a smile.

"Goodnight, dumbie."

"Hey! I called you a decent nickname."

"Wow okay then. Goodnight, princess."

Hold up, he said what?

I said that?

He quickly ends the call before you could let out a comment on what he just said. A wave of panic rushes to him not knowing your reaction. You covered your face with the pillows the surrounded you, letting out a frustrated scream.

Fuck.

-

The morning comes and Hanamakis heart was racing like he going to attend a deadly match but in reality he was just going to confess. He's set all the things that he needed for today, mostly the materials but he himself wasn't nearly as ready.

He's going to wear a uniform. How the fuck do you make that look presentable and polished? Should he wear a new hoodie for you to wear afterwards? Just- how?

He's been staring at himself for too long then he hears his parents call for him saying that Mattsukawa was at his front porch. He sighs before grabbing his bag and heading out of his room.

"So you ready?" Issei asks as Hanamaki shrugs. He wanted it to end right away but then again he wants things to slow down while he sees your reaction when does it.

"Fuck no. Iwaizumi helped me with a few things, he said something about gifts so I searched for some." Mattsukawa nods, as he thinks about what you were up to. Can it actually happen now? The two idiots would finally have the guts to confess on the same day?

"Honestly, this will be very entertaining. What time?"

"I was thinking kind of like after school." He says making Mattsukawa agree with him. It benefits the both of you. Never in a rush to admit, it could also give Makki some time to accomplish some of his plans.

"Do you think it'll go ok?" Hanamaki asks, almost nervous for his answer. Mattsukawa only smiles, knowing the possible ending.

"Yeah."

-

Betrayer. Oikawa thinks.

He lets out a pout of annoyance and when he spots you, he immediately walks over to you before Hanamaki could.

"Morning Oikawa! Have you seen-"

"Y/N-chan! I'll walk you to class today!" He says sweetly making you question in what was going on. He sees you peer your head over his shoulder, looking for Hanamaki which made him scoot a bit so your vision was blocked. Realizing that Hanamaki probably hasn't arrived yet, you shrugged.

"Okay, Tooru."

As Oikawa slings his arm around your shoulder, he could feel Takahiros stare as he walked with you. Even Iwaizumi had to double take on what he just saw.

"What's with him?" Hanamaki asks, feeling a slight burn in his heart when he sees you laughing with the pretty setter.

"I don't know, maybe he's just bugging her." Iwaizumi comments, making Makki roll his eyes. Mattsun takes notice of his behavior and lets out a chuckle.

"Aww, seriously. It's Oikawa! He's not going to steal your girl." Hanamaki blushes at his words and the boys eye his reaction, making them laugh at the change. Makki rolls his eyes before letting out a sigh, an act as if to reassure himself that things would go according to plan.

When Makki enters the room and meets your eyes, you already flash him a smile gesturing for him to seat with them. Oikawa sends a glare in his way making Mattsun lazily raise an eyebrow to the setter. Oikawa turns his attention to you once again, his chin on his palm as he stares at you.

"You're so pretty Y/N-chan! Wouldn't want that to go to waste do we?" Your ears couldn't really believe what you just heard. A sea of gasps echoed through the room when the compliment left Oikawas mouth. Murmurs of how luck you were started to spread and Makki was stood frozen.

"Flirting with my best friend isn't cute, shittykawa." Hanamaki comments, a distinct tone in his voice that didn't sound all too jokingly. The word best friend rings in your head as you actually felt a strike to your heart with his words.

How can you confess like this when you're down to rejection?

You felt like Hanamaki gave you a wake up call. Is this really the farthest you could go? Just friends? You let out a sigh, suddenly throwing away your previous plans of admitting your feelings for him. You gripped the pen in your hand as you tried not to be controlled by the pain.

Mattsukawa sees how your hand was trembling, replaying what Makki said, he nudges the boy next to him who was busy giving a cold shoulder to Oikawa. Mattsukawa prays that Hanamaki realizes what he just said.

Hanamaki feels the harsh nudge of his best friend making him look your way, a downcast evident in your features. Before he could ask you what's got you upset, the teacher walks in making Oikawa and Iwaizumi leave. Oikawa passes by Hanamaki making the tension even more noticeable.

Mattsukawa grips Hanamakis arm, to stop his mouth from sending a snarky comment and to hold him back from a glare. Hanamaki sits in his usual place as he ponders on what's gotten you this down. Was it Oikawa? What did he tell you? Could it be something that included him?

He sincerely hopes it doesn't involve him or else his hearts going to keep aching with jealousy.

-

What the fuck?

That was the only question that lingered in Hanamakis head.

Throughout the day, he figured that he'd be able to avoid you without you knowing what he was doing but instead, he found himself getting distracted in the fact that you sat with Oikawa between breaks. He couldn't even focus where to put the gifts in, he's totally forgotten about his locker and the possibility of you finding about it makes him panic.

He just hated how he feels the envy consume him. It took him a while to not give in to it. He had to continue, if he didn't- he would cower away. He wasn't going to waste another chance because of Oikawa, he can promise you that.

"You think Oikawa knew something? Maybe he's actually stalling you." Mattsukawa suggests, to remind Hanamaki that he was sure the setter isn't a barrier to his plans.

"He said something to her- I just know it. She's distant with me." He says tiredly, Iwaizumi leans on his arm to whisper to Hanamaki.

"Maybe he figured out you were going to confess." Iwaizumi says shrugging, Hanamaki shakes his head.

Are you turning him down then if this was real?

A way to softly push him away and tell him that your friendship mattered more?

If this was the case, he's leading his heart to a trap.

And it went like this until Makki had to confront Oikawa, sick of the change in you. It was practice time so he had the setter to himself. He knew you were waiting for him so he decided to take matters into his own hands.

He just wanted to be yours already.

"Oikawa, what did you tell her?" He asks quietly. Even if his heart held its beat because of jealousy, he's sure that the boy he was talking to had no interest in you the same way he has. Oikawa has never shown you signs of love or any affection at all. Sure, it was fun to be around him but he looked at you as a friend, a company he can find comfort in but who's to say Makki doesn't feel nervous?

"I didn't tell her anything what are you talking about?" The boy answers making Makki sigh.

"She's avoiding me. It doesn't make sense then." Oikawa raises an eyebrow at Takahiros expression. He looked so- distraught. It starts to sink in him how the lack of your presence takes a toll on his friend and there was the tiny ounce of regret that hits his mind.

When he sees Hanamaki open his locker to reveal a boquet of flowers, his eyes widen. He then closes them immediately, cursing himself for the misunderstanding.

"Isn't that what you were supposed to give Aika?" He asks, his throat dwelling with nervousness. Hanamaki furrows his eyebrows, evidently confused in how their classmate who he is even close to, got dragged into the situation.

"What-"

"Shit."

"Oikawa!"

-

I hate running.

He says to himself whie doing it, he's never ran this fast before. God, now everything was at rush. He had to pack his things immediately, make sure the sweat didn't cling to him like it did. He even had to rummage through his locker to make sure everything was inside his bag. Mattsukawa was also frantic. Iwaizumi was calm enough to knock some sense into Oikawa after Hanamaki tells the news on what exactly happened.

So here he was running to your neighborhood, flowers and all because he'd be dumb enough to be the guy in Oikawas misunderstood scenario.

"Oikawa!"

"Wait okay fuck I'm sorry- I might have heard something wrong earlier." He says, a hand to the back of his neck. Hanamaki isn't sure if he should feel relieved that Oikawa doesn't have any admiration towards or feel the fucking rage to strangle him for whatever led to this.

"What exactly did you hear anyway?"

"I can't just give the flowers to Aika. I can't act like an admirer of hers, I have to confess to her myself." Hanamaki says sighing as Iwaizumi and Mattsukawa nods.

Oikawa turns his back on the trio as he frowns at the idea of you and Hanamaki not being a couple. It seems that his friendly gestures didn't actually hold anything else, he'd fallen for Aika instead. Though he feels slightly pissed that Hanamaki led you on in some sort of way.

Once he sees you, he immediately goes your way in order for you to not witness the heartbreak that was about to unfold.

"Oikawa, I was planning to confess to Y/N. Mattsukawa suggested that I try to give her the flowers anonymously at first by letting Aika bring it to her but like I said, I didn't wanna look like an unknown loser." Hanamaki lets out a puff of annoyance as Oikawa rests his hand on the boys shoulder, now that tiny ounce of guilt grew and grew.

"I'm really really sorry, Makki." He says sincerely, Hanamaki sighs before nodding at Oikaws, accepting his apology knowing Iwaizumi could lecture the boy after his slip up.

"I need to go to Y/N now." He says but Kindaichi looks at his teammate with a water bottle in hand.

"Y/N-san left hours ago." He says as Hanamaki sends a glare towards Oikawa then he looks at Kunimi just to confirm Kindaichis statement. Kunimi nods before returning back to his unbothered state. Hanamaki lets out a scream of frustration as he dashes towards Mattsukawa and Iwaizumi, Oikawa being dragged along by his shirt.

"Oi, did you two fight?"

"Long-story short he thought I was giving the flowers to Aika. Now please, lecture the damn asshole- I need to find Y/N." He basically hands Oikawa to Iwaizumi who already landed a ball to the captains head as he runs off to his locker to leave immediately.

He could never adore someone else when you remained to stay at the top of his list- since no other name follows it.

He pats down his sweat with a towel before drinking water then spraying his cologne all around him. He was in front of your room door since your parents gladly invited him in while he mentions to be quiet at the sight of the boquet of flowers in hand and now it's finally happening. He was either going to face a prize or a bucket of tears.

Here goes nothing then.

He knocks on the door as you continued to scroll through your phone but you spoke, "It's open!"

He opens it softly, before stepping in your room, closing the door in the process. You look up from your phone only to get the life knocked out of you when you see Hanamaki.

"Hey Makki-"

"Y/N please I just need to tell you something okay."

He takes the vacant spot next to you on your bed as both your hearts pounded loudly with each second. Your mind couldn't stop racing at what he was going to say if it was just flat out rejection, meanwhile Hanamaki doubts what he bought you. He carefully takes your hand with his, caressing it gently while your cheeks were heating at the moment.

"Y/N I-"

You roll your eyes before ending the call, not even caring to know who called. Meanwhile, Makki wanted to stop himself from coughing from the embarrassment.

The phone rings. Oh, fuck me.

"Go on- really sorry." You say with a slight chuckle, as he smiles, thankful you read the room at how nervous he was. Instead, he went to his bag to find a certain box. Once he finds the blue box, he takes your palm and places the object on it.

You smiled at him you opened the box, praying that you don't let out a squeal when you see what's inside.

"Paper rings?" You say chuckling as Hanamakis eyes widen, threatened to pop out of his sockets since he was in full disbelief. You laughed as Hanamaki tried to get the back from you but you ran from your bed to wear the damn thing.

"Y/N!" He yells trying to reach the box from your hands but your laughter echoes through the room.

You're too fucking cute for me. You think to yourself.

"It's a perfect fit on me, Takahiro." You say even holding out your hand with the paper ring as Hanamaki hides his face on a pillow, an attempt to hide the humiliation. He can never bounce back from this. Where was the actual matching rings that he bought? The one with yours and his initials were embedded on? Did he leave it on his desk when he was trying to figure out your ring size? He was truly fucked.

When you tried to reach for him, the ring broke since it was surrounded by tape and it didn't really held strength to it. Realizing that it was folded paper, you opened it seeing scribbles and doodles from Makki.

Y/N's ring size is 6 maybe 7?

Get the flowers that Iwaizumi suggested. Which flower was it again? The ones that symbols love? Fuck it.

Does she prefer me with this perfume or not?

She smells amazing all the time, I hate it.

God, I like her too much it's unbelievable.

I feel like I'm proposing to her but I'm not complaining.

You immediately drop the paper to look at him, switching your gaze between him and the paper. You hid your face in your hands as you wondered if this was actually reality. Hanamaki likes you back? Proposing? It was overwhelmingly cute.

Hanamaki lifts his head from the pillow and he sees you looking like you were embarrassed for him. He immediately goes to you, hands on yours as he tries to lift them off your face.

"Do you want me to kiss it better?" He teases, hopefully it was able to grab your attention, and it did. You slap his chest from how flustered you were as he laughs before taking you in his arms, playing with your hair as your mind goes blank.

"Okay maybe the secret is out but I'm serious, Y/N. I like you- so fucking much it makes me wanna buy all the shit you want if we succeed in a heist- and I never wanna stop feeling this. The ring is crappy but I've got the actual one in my room so" He pulls away from your embrace as he lifts your chin to meet with his face who was intoxicatingly close.

"Do you accept my proposal of being my girlfriend?"

"If I said no?" You teased with a smile as he chuckles before locking his lip with yours, his hand finding its way to your cheek as you immediately kiss back, the pieces finally clicking in its rightful place. He deepens the kiss as your hand finds its way to the nape of his hair, pulling him closer while his own hands make a trip to your waist who he soon finds addicting.

He pulls away, caressing your cheek as your forehead touched, smiles plastered on either faces.

"I gladly accept, 'Hiro."

"Not like I'll take no for an answer, princess."