#yokan answers

[galvanizedfriend]

Yokan, hi!

so, me again 🥲 I'm sorry, I know I've been flooding your asks lately 😭 but anyway!

I started reading some comments under their assigned section of Ao3, and oh my God. Talking about The Wolf, why are SO many people always hating on Caroline? 😭

I've seen tons of comments about how she's always scolding Klaus and never on his side — which is INSANE to me.

Listen, I get wanting more and more romantic and heartfelt scenes between these two, but expecting Caroline to just shrug her shoulders at everything Klaus does is too much.

This is a focal point of their relationship. She's not afraid of speaking up to the big bad hybrid if he messes up, even though he could crush her within a second. She's always been loud and loyal about her ethics, which is one of the things (if not the main one) that captured Klaus' attention at the start (both in canon and TW). Why did people expect to see this vital part of her to just vanish once they got officially together? Why is it okay for Klaus to be irrational, but not for Caroline to be rational and actually putting him in his place?

Also, she said it herself: she's always on his team, but if he starts screaming and barkinv at innocent people just because, it's normal for her to jump in and pushing some common sense into his head.

Needless to say, if the position were inverted, Caroline would've been targeted as "Insufferable, Spoiled, Ungrateful bitch" (which is pretty much how people refer to Aurora), whilist Klaus would've been seen as "poor golden boy".

All of this just to ask: what's your take on this? Did any of these comments affected the course of the story? Did you ever had to change/delete some scene just to give the crowd what they wanted, even if you didn't agree or weren't happy with it?

Love you, take care!!

Hi, friend! How's it going? Putting this under the cut because as per usual I wrote a whole fucking TED talk lol

Oh yeah, the good ol' Caroline hate 😂 So interesting you noticed that pattern lol It's so real. And not just with TW either,I've received that type of comment on so many other fics. It's sadly not exclusive to one fic, and not even to this one fandom. It's something I've noticed in other fandoms as well. Different characters, same BS.

I honestly don't know what to say. I'm all for people having whatever opinions and interpretations they want, fandom'ing is free and there is room for everyone to do their own shit, but it's wild to me how people will come to my space and then get mad at *me* for not writing the story they have in their heads. I see a lot of misogyny in those takes tbh. Klaus can never do wrong, he always knows better, everyone should do as he says, he gets to be as much of a dick as he wants and it's always because he's a hybrid/he's so cool/he's got so much character, etc. But the second Caroline dares to step out of line, she's a bitch who doesn't know what she's doing. They like Caroline, but only to a point. If she starts antagonizing Klaus, she's either OOC (the woman who threw his gift back at him, told him to take a hint, called him terrible, left him writhing in pain for hours while she negotiated the terms of her assistance and threw his daddy issues at his face, antagonizing him? She would never!) or "doesn't care about him enough" (or my favorite: she's Hayley! 😂). I've seen the same thing in other fandoms. The guys usually get a lot more general support overall, their behavior are all excused, while the women need to be a picture of correction and perfection at all times or else they get instantly called out and no sympathy whatsoever. Caroline is not even the only one who gets that kind of treatment in the TVDverse. The hatred some other female characters get is wild, especially compared to the men.

Needless to say, none of these comments/opinions have ever influenced the way I write the story (though they did cause me to write some A/Ns throughout because there were times when I was just so tiiiiiireeeeed of replying to the same thing over and over, I didn't even approve some of the most offensive comments). I like Caroline - for herself, outside of her relationship with Klaus. Me being into KC is a consequence of the fact I like Caroline *and* Klaus individually and I love what they do/represent to each other, which is why I like them together. I like that Caroline isn't portrayed as being the perfect little unicorn, ideal girl, who can do no wrong. She has flaws, she has doubts, insecurities, she has a temper, she acts impulsively sometimes, she strives to be fair and kind, but she is not always *nice*. It gives Caroline an edge, layers and depth and makes her more relatable and interesting even in a show where side characters are subjected to poor superficial writing most of the time like TVD. The very things that make the other characters roll their eyes at her, and for her to be seen as someone who needs "improvement" are the things that make her great, and I especially love that those are the same things Klaus likes about her. It's why I fell in love with the ship initially. Here is this girl who's always trimming herself, smoothing the rougher edges of her personality in order to be loved, to be the one to someone, anyone, and yet keeps falling just short. She's never the priority, always left behind, forever a work in progress. In walks the big baddie, wreaking havoc and taking no prisoners, and he just sees her, rough edges and all, and says that's my wife. And the best part is they complement each other in just the right way. Klaus empowers her, gives her confidence to trust herself more, trust her instincts, explore the parts of herself and desires she would've otherwise tried to quench because it doesn't fit with the others, while she offers him balance and perspective, something *more* than the rage-fueled, paranoid ways he'd been operating on for so long. So why would I write a story where they finally get together only for that dynamic to be completely changed and Caroline to become the exact opposite of that? And besides, with TW in particular, more so than my other fics, it's about the journey. They go through so many different stages in their relationship. The way people expected Caroline to blindly trust Klaus right from the start was so unreal, or for her to not be even a little bit thrown when she got to witness him spiraling into the worst of his paranoia for the first time and the very real consequences of that. Some readers mistake trust and affection for resignation and blindingly following someone else's lead even when they are clearly digging themselves into a hole. I like to think those two idiots have come a long way from the beginning of TW and that's probably what I think is this giant-ass fic's strongest point. It's an evolution, a development, you can see the two of them progressing throughout, both individually and together, and to me personally, as the person (still) writing it, it's the part that brings me most satisfaction. Obviously I can't expect everyone to feel the same way, but I'm not going to change it, especially not now, after more than 1M fucking words lol Again, that's obviously just my opinion, it's how I view the ship, and people are welcome to their own thoughts, which I will respect, but I don't have to agree with. It's very annoying when people come at me like I'm getting paid to replicate exactly what's inside their heads, or like I'm committing some kind of crime for frustrating their expectations. By all means, write your own shit, my dudes, feed your gremlins and be merry.

[ourjisoo2]

✦ Shoma Nagumo ꒰ Ator ꒱ lockscreens !

𝐿𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑔, 𝐼𝑓 𝑢 𝑠𝑎𝑣𝑒, 𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒

[yridenergyridenergy]

I don't know if I missed any, but there were commentary images like diary pages from the director that were posted on Twitter while the Dir en grey Movie was in theatre in Japan. I finally got the time to take a look at them.

Worth sharing is that the director felt a tension that is unique to Dir en grey when he met them in the hotel lobby, even though they'd met in the past. But they were able to make him relax naturally by joking like: "What are you here for?"

The idea to make a film of Dir en grey's 2024 European tour came in January.

When they filmed Shinya's parts, the director felt intimidated by his knowledge and awareness of cameras (angles, position, etc.), which he credits to Shinya being a Youtuber.

The director finds that he had to convey how "mysterious" Toshiya is.

Die was the one who suggested filming in the city downtown.

Kaoru was super casual when answering the director's questions, leaning on a wall with his coffee in hand.

For Kyo's interview, apparently he mostly answered: "Dammit!" (Kuso!) And whenever not filming, he and the director chatted about movies. Even though the film director considers himself a movie geek, he sometimes feels defeated because he hasn't watched stuff that Kyo has, so he goes back home and tries to update his viewing.

The original plan was to film the Paris show(s), but because the venue charged a sort of fee in order to record, they felt that it restricted the rest of their budget too much.

Apparently the end credits roll up the screen to... the remakes of Yokan and/or Cage? The reception was mixed among fans, but the director said he struggled, and then it was his intuition to create a contrast and a flashback to reverberations earlier in Dir en grey's history.

[mirai-e-jump]

TV Life, 9/20/2024 Issue ft. Kamen Rider Gavv Cast Members (translation below)

Publication: September 4, 2024

Chinen Hidekazu x Hino Yusuke x Miyabe Nozomi

"What were your thoughts when you read the script?"

Chinen: I finished reading it in an instant due to how interesting it was. The more I read, the more I was drawn into the world of this show, and my excitement grew so much that I couldn't wait to play the role.

Hino: Me too. I was so curious about future developments, that every time I read the script, I couldn't wait to get the next one (laughs). Every character that appears is full of personality and intricately intertwined, making this a show that I think children, as well as adults will enjoy.

Miyabe: Naturally, the dialogue is interesting and fun to watch, but each and every character actually has their own problems and insecurities. I thought that the depiction of them growing while confronting these issues was wonderful and gives a human feel to the story. I'm personally encouraged by Shouma and the other's hard work and dedication, so I'd like to do my best to deliver the feelings I have to the viewers as well.

"How do you personally view the roles you play?"

Chinen: Shouma's a cheerful and energetic boy who loves to eat. He's usually innocent, adorable, and incredibly charming, but he's also a very mysterious character from another world. I think his clumsy side and his ability to work as hard as he can in everything he does is what'll make the viewers want to cheer for him, so I'd like to keep that in mind as I perform from now on.

Hino: I play the role of Hanto, a young man who works as a freelance writer, and who's pursuing info on the enemy Granutes. One of the unique characteristics of Hanto is that his feelings towards the Granutes are stronger compared to the others, so I'm always conscious of how to express that in my performance. Going forward, I hope you'll also make sure to pay attention to the development that causes him to transform and become Kamen Rider Valen.

Miyabe: Sachika's the gyaru president of the general store "Hapipare." She's really upbeat and energetic, and she's the kind of person who could just go up to the cool and difficult to approach Hanto and say, "Hey there!" I have no gyaru qualities in my everyday life (laughs), so to prepare for the role, I looked at works in which gyarus appeared and incorporated them into Sachika.

"So, to reference the theme of sweets, how would you compare each other to sweets?"

Hino: Because Hide looks so cute and has some fluffy vibes, I guess he'd be a marshmallow. He's perfectly white and pure just like a marshmallow. Truthfully however, because he also has a strong and unshakable core, he'd be candy filled marshmallows!

Chinen: Those exist?! (laughs). Still, being told I have a strong core makes me happy. Nozomi-san would be yokan.

Miyabe: Yokan?! How surprising (laughs).

Chinen: In contrast to the role she plays, Nozomi-san's usually a very refined person, so when I thought, "What elegant sweets are there?," I came up with yokan.

Miyabe: Thank you. Hino-kun is……

Hino: Huh? You seem stuck (laughs). There's tons of variety and something for everyone, isn't there?!

Miyabe: Since he's always positive when communicating with us and the staff, he's a friendly person, so I guess he'd be dagashi. The fact that he's loved by all ages, genders and generations is also appealing.

Hino: I'm relieved you gave a good answer (laughs).

"And, TV Life will start running your "Relay Series" beginning with this issue."

All: Alright! (clapping).

Chinen: Our seniors had also decided on their title. What should we do?

Miyabe: It should include "Gavv."

Hino: Definitely! I'd prefer it to be catchy and easy to remember, but…

Miyabe: I think serializations are a place where each person's individuality can come out, so how about "GavvPare!," which would be a lineup that reflects the essence of Gavv? (from "onparedo" = lineup)

Chinen & Hino: Oh~! Sounds good!

Miyabe: It'd be great if people could get to know the show and us throughout the series.

Chinen: Yeah. The first one will be mine. Once again, we look forward to your support over the coming year! _

GavvPare! Vol.1 (Chinen Hidekazu)

Q. Tell us your memories of sweets!

A. When I was a child, there was a rule in the Chinen house where sweets were only allowed on weekends, and so that in itself lead to a strong desire to eat sweets. Naturally, I didn't take eating them for granted, so I was really happy to spend time on the weekends choosing and eating my favorite sweets. By the way, when I had a craving for something sweet on a weekday, I'd chew on sugar cane as a substitute for sweets. (laughs).

[veephoenix]

zutto — chapter eleven | wc: 5.9k | series masterpost | prev. chapter

Chapter summary: Noah and Lia get answers from Noah's Grandma to all the questions they've had since Koi No Yokan.

Reading time: 25mins aprox.

Tags and trigger warnings: established relationship, slight angst, japanese folklore*, chinese folklore*, magical realism, fluff, a few tears, therapy, mentions/allusions to everything that has happened until now, including lia and noah's troubled childhood, lia's abusive relationship with mitch, and the time noah and lia slept together when they were drunk. Answers to all the mysteries that happened in Koi No Yokan.

General trigger warnings: this work addresses and depicts issues related to addiction, abuse, & violence, contains explicit sexual content, and explores themes of childhood trauma. Reader discretion is advised. +18

The house welcomed them with the earthy, lingering fragrance of incense. It was a scent neither Lia nor Noah could identify yet, for it was unfamiliar—perhaps it was woven from cedarwood. Perhaps sandalwood. Nevertheless, the scent and warmth of the house wrapped them in a sense of home despite knowing they were far from their own. It was an odd mix of comfort and respectful distance; they knew they were guests in a house where every detail was arranged with thoughtful care by someone else, and yet, it felt like being home in a way. But it wasn’t the place which gave them that feeling, no. 

It was Grandma. 

They slipped off their shoes at the entrance, following tradition, and as Lia wiped her eyes, Noah leaned into a hug to envelop his grandmother, a gentle but steady wrapping of arms that worked as a reminder of everything she had quietly done for him. As a boy, he had been unaware of it all, but now, as a grown man, he was aware and full of gratitude and admiration. 

“Why don’t you let Emi take your things upstairs?” Hana suggested, a familiar sparkle in her eye that meant she felt very joyful at having them home, finally. “I’ll prepare some tea, and we can sit in the tea room.”

At that, they both turned to see Emi, who had appeared with graceful timing at the entrance. She was a woman with short black hair in her late forties who had been assisting Hana for years. Noah and Lia knew her from their previous visits, and once again, as she stood with her hands neatly clasped and she nodded politely in their direction, her expression remained the same as always: serene and carrying a formality that made her seem both close and reserved at once. Though Hana managed the house alone, Emi’s help had become essential as of lately. The house was spacious and slightly too big for a woman alone. There were countless small details to tend to, and Hana, with her body aging with every passing day—that pain in her right leg, the backache—found herself struggling with certain tasks. Emi was there to lend her hands, as she had likely done for others throughout her life.

Emi’s presence had taken on a near-reverent quality since the moment she was hired, and that attitude applied not only to Hana but also to any guests arriving at the house. Her English was very poor, and that had led to some awkward exchanges between her and Noah and Lia in the past. Once, Lia had tried to bridge the gap and she’d asked Emi to sit with them at the tea table. But Emi, polite and respectful as ever, had simply smiled, bowed, and disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Lia feeling guilty at the thought that, while they were indulging in pastries and warm teas, the woman was cleaning the kitchen. Perhaps it was a cultural legacy of deep-seated respect, rooted in the tradition of servitude where service was considered a quiet honor, but it still didn’t sit too well with neither Lia and Noah. Hana told them, after a few times, there was nothing they could do and they had to accept the way she was, and so they never really said much else, not even when they felt a tinge of guilt.  

Noah thanked Emi gently, shaking his head when she made to lift one of their heavy suitcases. There was no way he was going to let that woman carry those heavy bags upstairs. But as expected, Emi insisted, saying something in Japanese and bending down. Noah exchanged a look with Lia, as if asking for a help she couldn’t provide. Emi attempted again to lift one of the bags, her intent clear even without words and ignoring Noah’s hands. 

“Can you tell her I’ll take care of it?” Noah asked Hana. “They’re too heavy. She’ll hurt her back. I can manage.” 

Hana nodded, understanding, and with a sweet voice but reverence in her tone, indicated to Emi—in Japanese, of course—to leave the task to Noah. Emi listened to Hana with more will than she had listened to Noah, for she nodded in understanding immediately and retreated after offering Noah another nodding and a smile that he tried to weirdly reciprocate. 

Lia trailed behind Noah as he took both suitcases upstairs at once, her carrying their backpacks, and once they reached the top of the stairs, she paused in front of the guest room door where she had always stayed. 

Noah kept walking towards his room until he noticed Lia standing far from him.

“You don’t think we’re sleeping in separate beds, let alone in separate rooms, do you?”

“No,” she replied, shaking her head, but her voice softened as she glanced toward the stairs. “I just don’t want to be inconsiderate. Maybe we should talk to Grandma about it first.”

After a brief pause, Noah nodded.

“Yeah. Sure. We’ll talk to her.” He extended a hand to her, and he waited until Lia took it to lead her into his room, sliding the doors open. 

The room was bigger than the guest room, square in shape, with a big futon laying on a wooden tatami, clean soft bedding drapped over it and an array of pillows. There was a small desk next to the door, facing the bed, and two more sliding doors on one side that led to a cozy balcony overlooking the distant mountains. Noah had never really stopped to appreciate how cozy the room was, but now he imagined how much warmer it would feel, having Lia lying in his bed. 

Noah set the suitcases in one side and Lia placed their backpacks on the desk. 

After spending a few minutes sorting through her toiletries and hanging up some clothes in the wardrobe, Lia slipped away to the bathroom for a quick break. Just then, a knock on the door startled Noah, causing him to turn around. He found Emi by the threshold, carrying more pillows in her arms and two colorful blankets. A sigh escaped him; he couldn’t find a way to explain they didn’t need so many, and he didn’t want to discharge her and offend her, so he simply stowed the extras in the wardrobe, thanking her.

Lia came back from the bathroom with her hair gathered in a comfy bun, and both headed downstairs. 

Grandma was in the kitchen, a space that carried the comforting smell of teas being prepared and food being cooked. Hana was placing an iron kettle on a tray and arranging three delicate porcelain cups beside a plate of traditional sweets when both stepped into the room. 

As Hana looked up, her eyes softened, the faint creases at their edges deepening. She paused, noticing the way Noah and Lia lingered at the door as if feeling shy about something. 

Before she focused on that, a surge of disbelief spread through her. It was always a little surreal to see them grown up, these two who had shared so much, tethered by a bond she had always sensed. To her, they were still the children who’d once sought refuge in her kitchen after school, where she would braid Lia’s hair and smile at Noah’s pleas to grow his hair long like hers, that little girl with torn clothes and that boy who used to escape the struggles of his family by playing guitar.

“Is everything to your liking?” Hana asked, her gaze soft but searching.

“Yes,” Lia replied quickly. Noah nodded in agreement, but then Lia glanced at him before adding, a hint of hesitation in her voice, “We were wondering if… if Noah and I could… share a room?”

Hana’s attention drifted downward, catching the subtle movement between their bodies. Noah’s fingers reached for Lia’s, and she quietly laced hers with his. Hana’s eyes lingered on their joined hands for a moment, before her lips curved into an understanding smile.

With a quiet satisfaction that neither Noah nor Lia fully comprehended, Hana lifted the tea tray and moved gracefully around the kitchen island, gesturing for them to follow without saying a word. Despite her petite frame, there was an elegance and authority in her movements.

Noah and Lia exchanged a look, then followed her into the tea room.

Hana’s tea room was minimal yet spacious, containing a square wooden table in the center surrounded by floor cushions. A single cabinet along the wall held a modest assortment of teacups and plates and a bouquet of dry flowers that had been there since she moved into the house, crafted by Lia, of course. On the left, the panneled windows made of washi paper let in the soft, diffused light from the garden at the back of the house. The room had always felt like a sacred space. 

Noah and Lia sat side by side, waiting in a reverent silence as Hana kneeled down in front of them across the table and poured the tea, the steam unfurling in delicate wisps that mingled with the scent of sencha. Lia wrapped her hands around the warm mug only to be warned by Hana. 

“It’s hot, dear. Be careful.”

It was always the same warning, and yet, Lia never seemed to care about it. Hana would always say the same, and Lia would always keep her hands around the mug because instead of burning her hands, the heat brought a sense of grounding to her that spread from her hands to the rest of her body. 

Next to her, Noah, normally patient, was growing a bit restless. He was expecting an answer. Yes. No. It had been a simple question, right? Can we share a room? Can Lia sleep in my bed?  He just needed a simple “yes” or “no” —a “yes” better than the other option because truth was, he didn’t know what he would do if Hana said he wanted them to keep distance while in the house. But Hana had to be so cryptic. She had to draw things out and keep him on this toes. 

As if sensing his thoughts, Hana’s old but wise eyes met his just as she finished pouring herself tea. Her expression was one almost… mischievous. There was softness in it, but she had a knowing smile on her lips that hinted at secrets only she knew. 

Just as Noah opened his mouth to speak, she said, “There’s something I want to show you.”

She started to rise, and instinctively, Noah made a move to help, but she waved him off. 

“No need, my dear. Just give me a moment.”

She dissappeared down the hall, her footsteps a soft patter that didn’t quite fade entirely as she retrieved what she went looking for in a nearby room. She returned moments later. In her wrinkled hands, she held a small, dark wooden box. She settled back onto the cushions. 

“Is that where you’ve been keeping my old baby teeth?” Noah joked, gesturing to the box with a smirk. Beside him, Lia chuckled, but Hana’s silence—her smile still serene—quickly quieted them. 

“Not quite,” was her reply. 

Hana placed the box on the table, facing her. Her own cup of tea steamed right next to it. She slowly opened it, but the attached lid created a barrier that made it impossible for Lia and Noah to see what was inside. Lia shifted, hands on her knees, lifting herself slightly and stretching her neck to catch a glimpse of whatever that was. 

Hana grabbed whatever was inside with such care that Noah and Lia’s curiosity and confusion just increased. A moment later, she placed something in the palm of her other hand and extended it towards them, revealing a piece of red string. 

The string lay delicate and faded in Hana’s palm. It was fraying slightly at the edges where time had worn it thin. Once bright red, it had softened to a muted, dusty crimson. Unbeknownst to the young couple in the room, it had stubbornly survived, first wash after wash, and then travel after travel until it was kept safe in the box that now lay on the table. 

“What’s that?” Lia asked, her eyes jumping to Hana’s, for she couldn’t make sense of the mystery that a tiny worn string could hold. 

She hadn’t noticed Noah going stiff, his eyes frozen over the piece of red laying in Hana’s hand. 

“That’s…” Noah began. He blinked, frowning a little as if he was trying to put the pieces together. He extended an arm and as gently as Hana had done, he took the string in his palm. “That’s a lose string from one of Lia’s socks,” he responded, more to himself than to Lia or Hana. 

Lia’s confusion only deepened at Noah’s words and at his reaction. He kept staring at the string in his palm as if it was made of gold. 

“What?” she uttered before shaking her head. “How could that—? I don’t own red socks.”

“You did,” Noah corrected her as he snapped his head up to look her in the eye, “when you were six.”

Lia wasn’t following. Noah continued.

“It got stuck on the pedal of my bike the first day we met, when I let you ride it. I gave it to Grandma right after I went back home. I thought…” The memories hit him, one after another. He nearly chuckled at his innocence back then. “I thought it needed to be sewn back or something. I got worried you wouldn’t have any more socks or that those would fray.”

Lia’s gaze flickered between the delicate string and the grandmother’s wise, knowing expression. She understood why little Noah, with his big heart and innocent worries, would have been anxious over the lost string. But Grandma? Why had she kept it for so many years? Why had she held on to it so reverently?

Unsure of what to say or feel, Lia found herself at a loss for words. She glanced at Noah, who was just as silent, both of them looking to Grandma.

“Have you heard about the red string of fate?” Hana asked then. 

Noah’s brow furrowed, and he nodded slowly. “I think I might’ve heard something about it… Isn’t that Chinese folklore?”

Grandma gave a gentle nod with an understanding smile. “Yes, it is. But that doesn’t mean it applies only to that region.”

Lia held her tea cup close, her fingers tracing the warmth that seeped into her palms. She took a slow sip, her eyes never leaving Grandma’s face as she waited.

“According to the myth,” Grandma continued, “the string of fate is an invisible red thread tied around the fingers of those destined to meet, especially soulmates or true loves. The ones connected by this thread are bound to find each other, no matter the distance, time, or obstacles. Though the cord may stretch or become tangled, it is said to never break, symbolizing a bond that is unbreakable and meant to be.”

“Folklore,” Lia concluded, a tinge of dubiety in her tone.

“Folklore, indeed,” Grandma agreed with a tilt of her head. “Life is not that simple, or beautiful. Some people are meant to be, but they never find their way to each other. However, sometimes they do. Sometimes they find each other at the strangest of times; sometimes when they are old, carrying the weight of their lives with them, and sometimes… when they are merely kids, with everything still ahead of them.”

“This is a broken string, Grandma,” Noah pointed out, extending his open palm as if trying to prove a point.

“And I said the red thread is invisible,” she replied with a soft smile touching her lips. “When you came home with that string in your hand, I kept it in a drawer for days, just because you were so concerned about Lia’s socks. But weeks later, when I found it again, I remembered the old myth, the one that had traveled from family to family, village to village, weaving its way across countries. By then, you and Lia were already inseparable, and I couldn’t help but wonder…” She trailed off, tilting her head as she looked at the thread as though it might reveal a hidden truth, as if it held the memories of years gone by. “I wondered if there was something to it. So, I kept it, out of curiosity. And as I watched you both grow—the more time you spent with each other, the more obvious it became.”

“What was obvious?” Lia asked, quietly. 

Hana’s smile deepened.

“That you were soulmates.”

Noah and Lia didn’t say a thing as they absorbed her words in quiet wonder and daze.

“When you moved in with Noah on your eighteenth birthday, I remember Noah calling to let me know that you’d settled in. There was something different in his voice—a blend of joy, contentment, and peace I’d never heard from him before. And then, the day you graduated, the look on his face when you came down the stairs in that beautiful dress, with those shoes you didn’t want to wear… Do you remember that, Lia?”

“I remember,” she replied as the memories flooded back. 

She recalled dancing with a classmate whose name had long since slipped her mind. She recalled Jolly telling her he was suspicious that Noah liked a girl. She remembered sneaking vodka shots with her friends in the restroom, and later that night, Noah giving her a piggyback ride to her room. And yes, she remembered the way he looked at her before any of that—a look she had assumed was the fond gaze of a best friend to whom you mean the world. Nothing more.

She turned her head to look at Noah. He was focused on Grandma, though there was a faint blush coloring his cheeks.  

“There was something…” Grandma went on. “It was’t just the string. There was something else, a feeling around the two of you, as if the world itself was telling me your place was with each other. When I look back, I’m convinced it all started the moment Noah first saw you, Lia. The thread may have existed long before, but the day your sock got caught on the pedal of his bike… it might have been a sign—a signal from some higher power that didn’t want you straying away from each other. I never wanted to interfere, to disturb the natural flow of things… so I did the only thing I could. I held onto this little piece of rope, believing somehow it would help keep you two together. I was afraid the thread might snap or get lost—that something would come between you and your relationship would strain.” She looked intently at them for a while. “I’ve never seen anything as beautiful and intense as what you two have. I said some people are meant to be but they never find their way to each other,” she looked directly at Noah, “but you, my dear child, you never left her side.” Not even when the thread threatened to break, when there were circumstances that hinted at a separation such as when Lia moved on her own, or when other people came between them—every one night stand, every girlfriend and boyfriend, Mitch, the night they slept together when alcohol was running through their veins. 

Be that as it may, Noah had always remained close to her. She had, too, in her own way and despite trying to push him away.  

“So,” Noah ventured, “you’re saying that we’ve always been meant to be together?”

“Yes. Lia has always been meant for you, and you for her. That’s what I believe, even if it sounds unreasonable, fantastical—you have every right to feel that way,” her voice flattered as her gaze drifted to a spot on the floor, unfocused. Lost in thought, her expression softened, and tears welled in her eyes. “But you’re here now. You’ve come back to me, together,” she continued, a smile breaking through the weight of years past, “after everything you’ve been through, all the struggles my children have faced so far away from me… I can only imagine how difficult it’s been, and I’m so sorry I couldn’t do anything for you. But now, you’re finally here, as you were always meant to be.”

Seeing Grandma’s silent tears trail down her cheeks was almost too much for them to bear. Even with the joy in this moment, the pain she’d carried across the years was evident, stretching from L.A. to this quiet town in Japan. She had watched, powerless, from afar as Noah and Lia overcame struggle after struggle—every little and not so little thing that threated to keep them apart. She’d been alone, helpless against the silent ache that crossed oceans—the butterfly effect.  

Lia resisted the impulse to react to Hana’s tears, instead setting her cup of tea down quietly on the table. Without a word, she reached over and took the string from Noah’s hands, holding it with a calm resolve.

The moment the fabric touched her skin, she was pulled back to that morning, twenty-one years ago. 

She remembered waking up alone in a crumbling house, piecing together a small breakfast from what she could find in the kitchen. She’d dressed in clothes that had piled up at the foot of her bed, unsure of how to wash them or make the machine downstairs work. Hoping to give them a different smell, she’d played in the garden among the flowers until her clothes smelled of lavender and thyme. Inside, she’d lost herself in her sketching and coloring, hours slipping by in a quiet solitude she barely noticed anymore. When hunger crept in, she’d scavenged an apple from the fridge, slicing away the bruised parts and eating what was left. Eventually, she’d perched by the window, watching the world pass outside, dogs barking in the distance, occasional cars rumbling by. Finally, she climbed the stairs back to her room to put on some red socks and boots. She’d opened the house door, stepped outside, and settled herself on the concrete. A while later, Noah had appeared.

And in that moment, her life changed. 

Noah saved her. 

With the back of her hand, Lia wiped a stray tear as she blinked. She rubbed the string between her fingers, its fibers stiff but delicate, like a fragile relic of the past that carried the memory of those early days—painful and sweet at the same time. 

Both Hana and Noah waited for her to speak. It took a moment, but finally, she opened her mouth, her voice quivering as she looked at Hana, eyes glassy. 

“Can I keep it?”

Noah half-expected Hana to hesitate. After guarding this small piece of their past—of their beginning— for so many years, he thought she might be reluctant to let go, fearing that releasing it might somehow weaken the bond between them. But Hana’s response was instant. Her smile brightened as she nodded.

“You can keep it, darling.”

Maybe, Noah thought, seeing them together after all these years had finally soothed Hana’s fears, rather than fueling them. He was still taking it all in, not so much the fact that she’d kept this string for over two decades, but the meaning behind it. 

But it made sense.

Every little thing made sense. 

And if he was honest, it was exactly how he wanted it. 

He’d wanted Lia since that Saturday morning when she was six and he was seven, in one way or another. 

He watched her fingers play with the red string, as if she were trying to understand if it was just a scrap of her old sock or a sign of something greater. It might have been nothing more than a forgotten string. Or perhaps it was indeed the physical proof of a bond that had been with them since childhood.

His tea sat untouched, forgotten as he focused solely on Lia, watching the worry etched into her expression. He couldn’t look away. He whispered her name, hoping to see if she was all right or if all of this was becoming too much. Her big brown eyes met his, unguarded and glassy with emotion. She didn’t smile, didn’t speak, just looked at him, and then, her concern shifted toward him. Just as he was about to tell her he was fine, she turned to Hana.

“What happened to Noah?” Lia’s voice was steady but edged with urgency. “The coughing. The fever. All those flowers.”

Hana’s gaze softened, though her expression remained unreadable. 

“We can talk about it tomorrow,” she replied, sensing Lia’s growing distress.

But Lia shook her head. “No. Now. We need to know.”

Hana hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. 

“Lia, my darling,” she began gently, “you just got here. Maybe one story is enough for today.”

“We’re fine,” Noah interjected, his tone resolute. He rested a hand on Lia’s knee, squeezing it lightly. “We’ve been waiting months for this, Grandma. We need to know. Please.”

For a moment, Hana’s shoulders slumped as though she were carrying the weight of something long-buried. She took a slow breath, then nodded, her gaze drifting somewhere beyond the walls of the room, as if she were looking back into a distant memory.

“When you were little, Noah,” she began, “I used to tell you folklore stories… so many you probably couldn’t keep track of them all.” She offered a bittersweet smile, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “Do you remember any those?”

“Some. You even got me a compillation book one Christmas.”

Hana nodded. “Yes, I did. And you’d beg me to read them, even when you should’ve been fast asleep.” She paused, eyes unfocused as if seeing the past replay in her mind. “There was one story—the tale of a boy and a girl. This girl loved the boy, loved him so much that it seemed to consume her. But the boy…” Her voice trailed off. “He didn’t feel the same way. It was a one-sided love, and because of that… she fell ill.”

Lia’s brow furrowed. “Ill?”

“Yes. In our culture, we call it Hanahaki disease. It begins with a feeling, a weight in the chest, but then it grows. Flowers begin to bloom inside you, filling your lungs with every unreturned feeling. And the more the love festers, the worse it gets.”

Noah frowned, his mind racing. The name felt vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t recall ever hearing the full story. 

“That’s not exactly what happened to me,” Noah intervened, lowering his voice. “I got sick every time Lia was physically away. But got better when she was around. And then one day, all of a sudden, the entire thing disappeared. On top of that, it was never a non-reciprocal feeling, so it cannot be the reason why I was coughing up flowers.”

“Not everything happens as its written in the books, my dear. As for the cough stopping one day and never coming back, maybe Lia can tell you more about that.”

Noah turned to Lia, surprised to see something in her expression he hadn’t expected—a trace of guilt, a hint of something she’d held back. She had listened intently, but now it was as if Hana’s words had pulled a thread that led to a long-kept secret. Her gaze met his, a small crease forming between her brows, her face shadowed by a reluctant admission.

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Hana said, her voice gentle but decisive.

Both Noah and Lia looked up, startled.

“But we just sat down,” Lia protested. “The tea…”

“Don’t worry about the tea,” Hana replied, already rising with her cup in hand. She smiled warmly at them both before turning, and with a gentle slide of the door, left them in the quiet intimacy of the tearoom.

Noah turned back to Lia with a deeper frown, a look of weariness in his eyes that said he was done with so much overwhelming. There were still questions in the air and he wanted answer for all of them. Now.

“What was that about?” he asked, his voice edged with frustration. 

Lia took a steadying breath, sipped her tea, and set the cup down beside the string as she searched for the right words. 

“I think she’s right,” she started. “I know I brushed off all those times you mentioned Grandma’s theories—that being close to you somehow made you feel better. But after hearing about this string, that story, how long she’s held onto it… maybe there really are things beyond what we can explain and understand. Maybe this strange flower-coughing disease is one of them.” 

“I’m with you on that,” Noah replied, his gaze holding hers. “But it wasn’t one-sided when I fell head over heels for you, Lia.” 

“No, it wasn’t,” she said, meeting his eyes. “But it took me months to realize it myself and then, accept it.”

Noah’s eyes—and mind—were clouded with confusion. Sensing his need for clarity, Lia took a deep breath and tried to lay it all out, piece by piece. 

She’d been in love with him for longer she could admit. Deep inside, her heart had always belonged to him, but over and over, she had refused to believe it, to accept such a thing. She couldn’t jeopardize this near-perfect friendship they shared—that meant everything to her. And they had made a promise. So, she buried those feelings, ignored her heart, told herself over and over that whatever she felt was just a passing infatuation and that it would go away in time. She lied to herself because she hadn’t been willing to admit to herself, let alone to Noah, that she was in love with him. 

In the end, it was her denial that made him sick. It wasn’t that his love for her wasn’t reciprocated; it was that she couldn’t bring herself to believe in her own love for him as more than just a friend. Yet, despite her efforts to bury it, her love always found a way to surface—whenever she made him laugh, whenever she comforted him, whenever she showed up at his door just to be with him. Somehow, Noah’s heart had always known that hers belonged to him, and that was why, whenever she pulled away or tried to distance herself, his sickness would worsen. 

Only after countless hours spent in therapy did Lia finally begin to admit the truth that her own heart, her own body, had been trying to show her all along. She remembered that session vividly: 

“No.”

“Lia—” Dr. Reynolds insisted. 

“That’s not how it is,” she assured nearly through gritted teeth. Her voice was tight with resistance.

“It is, and you know it. You’ve known it for a long time, but you refuse to accept it. For me to help you, you must acknowledge it. You have to say it out loud and accept it. I know you’re scared, but you have to admit what you feel.”

Lia felt the words crawling up her throat, her heart racing, her palms damp as she gripped the arms of the chair. Her breathing grew shallow, and she looked at the doctor with wide, glassy eyes, the truth trembling on her lips. 

“Lia,” Dr. Reynolds pressed, “you are in love with your best friend, Noah. Say it.”

Her heartbeat was rapid and erratic, each beat hammering against her ribcage. She was terrified—terrified of what admitting it would mean, what it would change. But perhaps the only way to stop the ache was to finally speak the words aloud.

“I’m…” Her voice wavered, barely above a whisper. She took a shaky breath, her nails digging into the armrests of the chair as she steadied herself. “I’m in love with Noah.”

Back in the tearoom, Lia took a deep breath, her gaze landing on the steaming cup of tea. Noah's hand was no longer on her knee, and she missed the warmth it’d provided.  

“The day after meeting her,” Lia continued, “Jesse called me. He said you were worried something had happened to me.”

“That was the day the coughing stopped,” Noah acknowledged. “The day before had been Hell. I’d been so fucking sick, and then… from night to morning, I woke up and felt fine.”

“It was because I admitted to myself what I’d been refusing for so long—that I loved you. You were sick all those times because of me.” 

Noah hesitated, his lips parting slightly as he processed the rising panic in Lia’s voice. He shifted to face her, still seated in a lotus position on the cushions 

“That’s—” After a moment’s deliberation, he shook his head and squared his shoulders, feeling the weight of the conversation pressing down on them. They could continue down this path, but it would only lead them to the painful memories of the past, and that was no longer what mattered. “It doesn’t matter now. That’s all in the past, Lia,” he concluded, his voice steady yet tender. They had endured so much together. Neither had been at their best; they had made mistakes and harbored regrets. How could they have paid heed to some whimsical folklore tale—much less the reality of it manifesting in their lives? Considering everything, there was no sense in revisiting those moments or blaming each other for every obstacle they had placed in one another’s way. “We got the answers we wanted, and what matters is that we’re here, and we’re real, right now.”

Lia blinked back tears, but a few slipped free despite her efforts. She brushed them away. When another tear fell, Noah reached over and caught it with his thumb. Before she could think, she climbed onto his lap, wrapping her arms around him, clutching him tightly. He quickly wrapped her in his arms and held her close, resting his cheek against her hair, and she felt his steady breath as he nuzzled into her neck. The weight of her in his lap felt so nice and natural, and the way his arms encircled her made her feel safe, almost fragile but in a good way, because she knew she was out of danger with him. Would always be. 

“I’m so scared of losing you one day,” she whispered, her words barely audible against his ear.

Noah pulled back just enough to look at her. Glancing at the small, coiled red string on the table beside them, he reached for it and held out his hand to Lia. 

“Give me your pinky finger,” he ordered. 

She looked at him questioningly but placed her hand in his. He laid his own pinky alongside hers and began to wind the red string around them. 

“Help me with this?” he asked, giving her a soft smile.

She did. When they finished the knot, their pinkies were tied together with the thin red thread. He tugged gently to make sure it held, then grinned. 

“Now we’re really tied together. See? Problem solved.”

Lia’s laugh came out, light and clear, the tension in her shoulders easing as she looked down at their fingers entwined by the string. The sound was so full of life, of relief, that Noah couldn’t stop the warmth spreading through his chest. He lifted his hand to her face, cupping her chin with two fingers, and leaned in to press a soft, lingering kiss to her lips, savoring the way her smile lingered against his own.

When he finally pulled back, he whispered, 

“I told you. You’ve always been mine, Lia.”

— prev. chapter | chapter twelve

Author's note: 100 points for those who guessed it was the red string 🤭 You can reread about that moment in Chapter 1 of Ikigai (literally the beginning of the story). It's no more than a couple of paragraphs, if I don't recall wrong, right at the end, but it was a very important detail for the future. Thank you once again for reading and being with me in this journey :)

*I've done some changes to the original folklore stories mentioned in this chapter to adapt it to Noah and Lia's romance story. I hope everything was more or less clear regarding all those weird things happening in Koi No Yokan. I never had this story planned in detail before I started writing, so it got tricky at some points, but I think I managed to make everything fit reasonably within its flow.

🔖 Taglist:

@somebodyels3 | @respectfulrebel | @thecoyotescry | @bluestdai | @lma1986

@sweetwombatpizza | @missduffsblog | @shilohrosechicken | @jilliemiw86 | @alwaysfightforwhoyouare

@chey-h | @ferduttini | @dominuslunae

[p-imchan]

⠀ # p-imchan :⠀ ⠀ • ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ KAIZEN MAYARI

⠀ ⠀⸻ ⠀ ⠀ born KODAWARI, youngest descendant of the こだわり family, one of the most influential families in Japan, known for their wealth and huge fashion empire. She embodies the pure perfection of the family and will inherit the entire empire. From an early age, Mayari was molded into something great. Passion, excellence and perfection are the most important things. The future of the family rests on ⠀ ⠀ her — she was born to change worlds.

⠀⠀ (storybase linked with @koi-no-yokan-kaizen )

open ⠀for ⠀conversation⠀& ⠀plotting ⠀in ⠀german ⠀or english, ⠀but ⠀german ⠀is ⠀preferred, ⠀21+, ⠀only in character talk, ⠀semi active, ⠀answer can sometimes take a while.

[uriekukistan]

the angst gremlin in my brain tells me this is not the best chapter but the plot called for a chill moment so i had to deliver. dw, everything will fall apart again soon enough :D

koi no yokan | Itafushi | M/M |College/Band AU | Angst w Happy Ending (you have to suffer for it) | 7/16 | 4.9k | read from beginning

The calm before the storm...

Warnings: heavy drinking, smoking, slightly suggestive, megumi's got some real issues ngl....

��Who was the boy who dropped you off last night?” Gojo asked, trying and failing to sound casual. Megumi shouldn’t have been surprised. Gojo was observant like that. That didn’t stop him from shooting the older man a piercing and suspicious glare. “What?” Gojo said innocently. “I heard you two talking outside. You know I have keen senses.” Megumi forced his face into a disinterested expression. It was impossible to get anything past Gojo. He should have known this by now. “He’s no one,” he answered. “Just some guy I know.” “Y’know,” Gojo replied, “when I was your age, I moved in and adopted kids with someone who I told my parents was just some guy I knew.”

[nowoyas]

koi no yokan 37: unwelcome (nishinoya yuu/reader)

First - Prev - Next - M.list 1-30 - M.list 30-60 - Ao3

A/N: happy saturday! things are rough right now in the political sphere. I couldn't get this chapter together in time to be able to do a bonus update to lift the spirits a little, but I'm gonna be here writing no matter what, I promise.

Summary: You're starting to think that life may just be a cycle of recovery and the things you're recovering from. All the same, you try to recover with grace.

Warnings and Tags: none in particular!

Word count: ~4200

You wake up to your phone blaring at you.

Your head hurts, your phone's too loud, you feel like the victim of a hit-and-run. For the briefest of moments, you half-expect to find Noya laying in the futon next to you, like you've just recently been concussed, like someone's going to chide you if you try to clean up any of your own messes. Except—this isn't Noya's bedroom. You're in your futon in your living room, Cinnabun in your arms. Your father's sitting on the couch nearby, actually, having looked up from his laptop at the noise.

You reach for your phone, intent on turning off the alarm. Too bad for you, you're officially recovered enough from the concussion to have to deal with your messes on your own again, and rather than an alarm going off, one of those messes is calling you right now.

You answer, unable to feel the building dread beneath the cough in your throat. You even manage a bleary hello? before you actually start coughing.

"Damn, you sound like shit," Asuka says in greeting. "Are you okay?"

You take a moment to catch your breath. "Uh, maybe. Sort of think my immune system's being put through one of those pasta maker things right now. Also, my lungs. What's up?"

"Did you forget? We had a date."

Ah, fuck. It's Sunday. That explains why your dad's home. "No, shit, sorry, I—I just woke up—" If you could stop coughing, you could maybe manage to explain yourself. "I think I need to reschedule. Otoo-san's taking me to the doctor, I think."

Your dad looks up from his laptop. He nods.

Asuka lets out a sigh through the phone. "Sorry you're not feeling well. Next Sunday?"

A nod. "I'm really sorry. I don't think you want whatever I have. Next Sunday."

"Feel better, [surname]-chan."

~

Somehow, returning to practice after having been sick never quite feels triumphant. It's embarrassing, really, not to mention the inherent fear—that the team won't be happy to see you, that you won't have been missed, that you're not welcome.

The gym is a place you've learned to breathe easy. As your feet cross the threshold today, you feel like you can't breathe at all.

You'd like to think you're somewhat of a master of denial, so you deal with this feeling the same way you deal with most feelings you'd rather go away: you try convincing yourself that it's only the cough overstaying its welcome and making your throat tight, that it's congestion in your chest making it difficult to breathe. If you can do that, maybe you'll calm down. Maybe you'll be okay.

Naturally, there are other plans in place for you, which is why, three steps into the gym, you find that there's a familiar pair of arms around your waist, that your feet have left the ground, that the world is spinning around you. You also find that the yelp you'd usually let out at such an injustice is replaced by another coughing fit. Lucky that you're wearing a mask.

Especially since Noya seems keen on holding you even when he knows you're sick.

He hasn't visited since the first day you were sick—mostly on your insistence. You've texted a lot, though—check-ins, updates on the team and the now-plural cats, pictures of or with one or both of the cats in question. When you'd been too busy coughing your brains out and missed a practice match, he'd even called to give you the play-by-play, so you didn't feel like you'd missed anything.

You hadn't told Noya you'd be back today, so maybe you should have expected him to scoop you up this way. This is the first time you've been around him—really been around him—since his little speech, since your little realization, and the proximity is killing you. "[name]-san! You're back!"

"Hi, Senpai," you reply weakly.

He keeps your feet off the ground, leans back with your weight as he grins up at you. He sways you gently. "You're feeling better? I see that mask."

"Just a precaution," you manage. "The doctor says I'm not contagious anymore, but I'm still coughing sometimes, so…"

Your words must have been too tight, too heavy, because Noya tilts his head and pouts a little. "You okay?"

"Nervous," you whisper back.

"Nervous?"

"Wired," you correct. "I dunno. I just wouldn't like me very much if I were any of your friends."

"Our friends," he corrects swiftly. "And they aren't mad at you, but if they cause any problems, you're gonna tell me."

You sigh a little. Brace a hand on his shoulder as he finally sets you down. "I'm not gonna make problems with the team. I'd rather—"

"Oh! By the way!"

You sigh. Let him steamroll you.

"I have cat news!"

"Cat news?" you repeat, marginally more excited. He's sent you plenty of pictures, plenty of little updates, but so far, Noya hasn't told you the important things: no name, no verdict.

He nods. "I wanted to tell you in person, but you banned me from getting too close while you were sick! We took him to the vet, and not only is he perfectly healthy, but! He's not chipped, and Okaa-san caved, so…" The edges of his grin soften a little. "You get full visitation rights for Tsuyu."

"Tsuyu?" you repeat. "You actually—you named him Tsuyu?"

"Turns out the girls love the joke."

There's a little twinge of emotion—you've been more emotional than usual recently—and then you're smiling beneath the mask. "That's—I didn't even bring it up."

"We all had a name to put into the ring, so…" A little tilt of the head. "I didn't have a better idea, so I gave credit instead."

"Oh thank god, you two are talking again," Ennoshita says from behind you. "Welcome back, [name]-san. Please never fight with Nishinoya again. He's miserable without you."

Your cheeks burn. "O-oh, come on, I'm sure it wasn't—"

"I am miserable without you," Noya moans. He's now draping himself over your shoulder. "You're my sunlight, I need you or else I'll—"

You snort, giggle, cut off in a cough. "Oh my god, shut up."

Kageyama, walking past, takes a moment to regard you both. "Please don't fight again. Nishinoya-san plays better when you're on good terms."

Before you fully process it, Noya's launched off of you in a tirade, barking something at Kageyama about crouch down to my level so I can lecture you, something about the implication that he hasn't been playing well recently, and Ennoshita takes the chance to sidle up beside you.

"It's good to see you back."

You don't believe it for a second. "Thanks."

"Mind if I ask what that whole deal was? I knew you guys were fighting, and his sister told him about the boyfriend in front of the second-years, so we found out about that pretty quick, but…"

You shrug. "There's… not that much more to it. We got into a fight that was stupid. I self-destructed a little bit for unrelated reasons and got a boyfriend out of it. I've talked to Noya-senpai, and I don't think he's exactly happy with it, but the air's cleared and I'm giving the boyfriend a solid chance since I already said yes."

He winces. "Ouch. It's not really my place to judge, but are you sure that's a good idea?"

A sigh. "Everyone so far has told me it's a horrible one, but… I mean, Senpai's basically sworn he's gonna make the guy hate him, so chances are we break up pretty quickly."

A raised eyebrow. "You're pitting them against each other?"

"I'd actually really rather not. The guy's not serious and he's kind of a known cheater, but… I dunno. Every time I've tried to break up over text I end up not sending it. Guess I'm trying to prove to myself that it won't work out or something. You can judge me if you want. I know I'm fucking all of this up."

"Statements like that are why I'm not judging you. Knowing you, you'll make it up to him."

"And the rest of you?" you mutter. "I don't know where to begin with everyone else."

He shrugs. "I think what you did was messed up, and Nishinoya seemed really upset by it, but I don't think you need to make things right with the rest of us as long as you make it right with him."

"Would that really rebuild any amount of respect, though? Everyone was looking at me differently when they found out."

"I mean, they probably were, yeah. It didn't make any sense. You went from tracking him down with homemade lunches for lunch dates—"

"—oh my god, how many times do I have to say it wasn't—"

"—because of some racy bet you weren't willing to give details about, to like… dating some random guy we'd barely even heard of. You didn't even look happy about it, and you're like, insanely easy to read with any amount of practice."

"What? No I'm not."

He levels a look at you. "Are you gonna tell me you're not jealous of Shimizu?"

"I'm not jealous. Jealous implies a level of catty and petty bullshit, and it's not like I'm putting the blame on her for it."

"But you don't like watching him simp after her."

"That's—shouldn't you be getting ready for practice?"

He chuckles and shrugs his shoulders. "All I'm saying is, I think you're more welcome here than you think you are. Focus on making it up to Nishinoya, not the rest of us."

"What are you, my brother?" you grumble. He doesn't answer, so you add: "By the way, could I trouble you for your notes from the past two weeks ago at some point? I promised Noya I'd help him get caught up, so I'd like to have half an idea what I'm talking about."

"See? Like that. I'll text you my notes later, just remind me, alright?"

~

Honestly, the complete lack of treating you like shit on the part of the team is throwing you off. Over lunch, you work with Yachi to get caught up on missed assignments, and in afternoon practice, you're welcomed just as much as before. You suspect that Noya's influenced this, one way or another—probably told them not to hate you, even though you really were ready for it. You can see him, in your mind's eye, telling them in no uncertain terms to lay off.

Either way, he's happy to be around you, and you relax into his presence.

So much so that, on your way out of afternoon practice, you've almost forgotten that you have a boyfriend until he calls your name.

"Hey, there you are!" Asuka calls as he jogs to catch up. "I heard you were back at school today; you should've texted!"

Beside you, Noya is already wound up. You successfully fight back a cringe and elbow Noya a little, a silent plea to be nice.

"Sorry," you manage. "You know how it is with my head. Did you just get out of practice?"

He nods, grins. "Wanna walk home together? I feel like we haven't had any time together since I asked you out." His voice is subtly smug, his eyes on Noya as he speaks. "You two are talking again?"

Ah. He's trying to provoke Noya. You nod. "Yeah, we worked through it. I don't mind walking home with you, but Noya and I live pretty close, so he'll have to tag along. Is that okay?"

Asuka's eyes narrow. "I guess. It really can't be avoided?"

"No, sorry," you chirp. "I know you guys don't really click, but Noya-senpai is my best friend. He's non-negotiable. I'd like it if you at least tried not to start shit." Your eyes slide to Noya. "That goes for you, too, Senpai. Be nice."

Asuka sighs, falling into step beside you. When his arm settles over your shoulder, it takes every fiber of your being to resist tensing up. "Fine. I won't start shit."

"Asuka, right?" Noya says, smile tight. "Sorry about last time. I was having a bad day."

He flashes a tight smile in return. "No problem, man."

Bless everything, quite honestly, when the first of several coughs tears from your throat. You stop walking, buckle a little.

"You okay, [name]-san?" Noya asks when you've recovered.

You nod weakly. Asuka's stepped back from you—it's Noya's hand on your shoulder, steadying you all over again. "Yeah. Just can't shake the stupid cough, I guess."

Asuka frowns. "Are you sure you're gonna be okay for this weekend?"

Oh, right. Sunday. "I mean, I'm not contagious anymore or anything, but if you'd rather not…"

"Sunday?" Noya tilts his head.

"Yeah. We had a date, but I don't exactly wanna get sick, so…"

He snorts. "She just said she's not contagious."

"Boys," you interrupt sharply. "Are we trying not to start shit?"

"Sorry, [name]-san."

Asuka sighs. "You're sure you're all clear?"

You nod. "The doctor said I was clear if I made it a day without fever. It's been two or so. The cough is just like… leftover."

"Then… I guess it should be fine." He's hesitant, blissfully doesn't return his arm to your shoulder. "I'll pick you up after practice Sunday?"

"Sure."

You scrabble about in your head for any topic of conversation to shift to that doesn't lead to more tension between the guys. Noya's gone a little quiet, for reasons you can guess, but he ends up being the one who provides something, and for just half a second, you're grateful to hear him break the quiet.

"So, Asuka. You've got a sister, right?"

What the fuck, man.

Okay, wait, you can steer this: "Oh, really? I didn't know that! I'm so jealous. I don't have any siblings."

Asuka shrugs. "She's not that great. She's kinda stuck-up, honestly."

You affect a little pout. "It's lonely being an only child, though. I always wanted to have an older sister growing up."

Noya snickers. "Is that why you're so close to Satsuki?"

"A little," you admit. "It's also just because she's cool as hell. I'd probably be just as close with Mei-san and Kaede-san if they weren't so busy."

"You can have my sister," Asuka says jokingly. "Our parents are always comparing us and shit. It's obnoxious. Like, yeah, fine, Hitomi's never done anything wrong in her life, I get it."

You listen to him rant, walk together until he splits just past Sakanoshita. Approximately three seconds after he's said his goodbye—to you only, ignoring Noya completely—a warm arm winds around your waist. "You have a date this weekend."

His tone's almost accusing. Guilt surges in your chest.

"I told you I'd give him an honest shot. I think that probably involves at least one date."

"You could barely tolerate his arm over your shoulder. You're not gonna, like, develop feelings for him. You're barely even comfortable with him."

The implication is clear, of course, and you get it, but… "One date, Noya. I won't even give you details. You can pretend it never even happened."

"How am I supposed to do that? I'm not gonna be able to focus on anything if I know you're out running around with that jackass. It took all of my self control not to punch him just for touching you."

You neglect to point out that he's the one who needled him into not rescheduling again. "I appreciate your self-control. Genuinely." You sigh. "I'll make it up to you?"

"Come over, then. Kaa-san wants me to bring you over for dinner again soon, and I need a focus buddy. That, and someone to make Satsuki be extra careful so she doesn't over-season dinner again."

"Big criticisms from the guy who's had no real cooking lessons. And you're studying? Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm not studying yet," he corrects with a grin. "I can't study without eye candy. If I don't have your beautiful presence in the room with me, I'll never be able to focus."

A roll of the eyes. "Sure, right. I'm sure that's what you need."

As you near his place, the tension eases a little. He finds other topics of conversation, ones that don't hurt you both. "Did you mean what you said about wanting an older sister?"

You let out a fond huff. "Yeah. I guess I used to beg my parents for an older sister. I didn't get why they couldn't just make another kid who was older than me."

He laughs, tugs you a little closer. It's a bit difficult to walk this way, but you make it work, your head bumping against him as you walk. "Guess you've just gotta…" He trails off, like he's just remembered something. You glance up at him, watch the ease in his expression slip away.

"Noya? You okay?"

"No, yeah, sorry. So when're you gonna teach me to cook?"

"Um… hm. I gotta use up that chicken soon. If I'm not still dying tomorrow, do you wanna do tomorrow?"

"I also wanna do tomorrow if you are still dying. Is that an option?"

"Sure," you reply with a little laugh. "I'd love to."

~

Over snacks in the living room, you sit with Noya and you study. You get texts from Yachi for the notes you've missed while you were out and texts from Ennoshita with all the second years' notes from the past two weeks. You share them with Noya and redirect him whenever he loses focus, manage breaks. He's more restless than usual.

Just one date, you tell yourself. Just one.

When Satsuki catches sight of you on her way into the kitchen, you pretend not to notice the cold air that settles over your shoulders, the glare raking over you. You wait until you hear her start something in the kitchen, and then you call another break, silently thankful when Noya takes the chance to run to the bathroom. You wait two seconds after he's disappeared down the hall, and then, you join Satsuki in the kitchen.

"Hey, Heartbreaker," Satsuki greets. Half-joking, half-cold. "Heard you're staying with the baseball cuck."

You sigh, lean against the door frame. "For now. I'm just giving him an honest chance, since I already agreed to date him."

"I don't really get how I'm supposed to not be mad at you just because Yuu said not to be."

"I'd understand it if you were, but…" You shrug. "I'll tell you what I told him. I didn't do any of that to spite or hurt Senpai."

"You did hurt him, though. You get that, right? Just because you didn't want to doesn't mean you didn't." She moves confidently enough through the kitchen, no sign of whatever bad cooking Noya warned you of. That feels like so long ago now.

"I know. I'm trying to make that better, alright?"

"So what're you talking to me for? I'm not the one you hurt."

"Nee-san," you say, firm but quiet, "I'm trying to make things right with you because it clearly bothers you, and you're important to Noya-senpai."

She sighs. "If it's that important to you, maybe get some fucking therapy, I dunno. That, or just stop doing shit like this." Satsuki gestures vaguely, exaggeratedly, in your direction. The kitchen knife really punctuates her sentence differently.

"I am." The words catch in your throat a little, a harsh lump. "I talked to Otoo-san about it, and he agreed. I just have to settle on a list of therapists to try to get in with so he can start trying to make an appointment with one of them. We don't know when I start yet, but we talked about me going every other week so I don't miss too much club stuff."

She pauses. Stares at you, studies you. "You're really gonna get help?"

"I mean, I guess that depends on whether Otoo-san follows through, but I'm trying."

"Ugh." She groans, drops her head forward for a moment. "Fucking hate it when I can't even hold a grudge about the thing. Alright, Heartbreaker, give me the story. If you didn't do all this shit to hurt Yuu, why did you?"

"He's too real. I think that's all it is. Asuka-san is… really obviously just screwing around. I think he wants arm candy more than anything. He thinks he can pull me in with negging and childish bullshit, he barely wants to be around me—and like, he doesn't know a damn thing about me, but that's okay because he doesn't matter and this relationship doesn't matter. Everything with Senpai matters so fucking much."

"You know he's probably gonna cheat on you, if he isn't already? You know his sister's terrified of what happens if he or their parents find out about me? You know he treated me like shit when he came to me for information on you?"

You furrow your brow. "He… came to you about me?"

"Yeah. You haven't really had any need of my services, but usually if people wanna find stuff out about other Karasuno students, they end up coming to me. I'm just really good at asking the right people the right questions. Your boyfriend ended up coming to me when one of your volleyball friends wouldn't give him any information."

"I didn't hear about that. What did you, um…"

"Told him you were Yuu's girl and he should lay off before he gets a broken heart or a broken bone. I'm still holding out for both of those. Also, made him pay way more than my usual rates for way less information. He got, like, basically just your name and that you were a volleyball club manager for a whole bag of imported candy. Usually for shit like that someone would at least be getting a phone number and a good word, but he was on my bad side from the start, so…"

You snort. "What, just because he was interested in me?"

"No. If he'd backed off when I told him to, that'd be one thing, but he was a real dick the entire time. And that was before I looked into him."

Kinda wish you'd heard about this. It might not have changed all that much, but…

"I told Yuu to watch out for any guys trying to get close to you because Asuka was such bad news when I looked into him. I guess it kind of backfired, but, you know, I didn't do it for Yuu's sake, I did it for yours. The fact that keeping you from getting into a relationship with that guy would have been ideal for Yuu was a bonus. We're just worried about you."

You sigh. "I really, really hate it when people worry about me."

"Why?"

You pause. No one's ever asked you that before. You certainly haven't taken the time to think about the answer. "It just feels bad, alright? I don't like it."

"You should get over that. People are gonna care about you, and they're gonna worry, and they're gonna want nice things for you. It's part of fucking existing, Lovergirl."

"If it were that easy, I would," you grumble.

"Maybe just like… bring it up with your therapist, I dunno. But sometimes you gotta do things that aren't that easy. If not for your sake, then for the people that you care about. So buck the fuck up and get over it, so you can let people care about you."

This might be the least helpful pep talk you've ever received. Somehow, it's still sort of working?

"I was kinda gonna come in here and ask you to punch me and get it over with so I could earn your forgiveness," you mumble, "but I guess a pep talk works."

"Damn right it does. You're gonna work on your shit, you're gonna get that therapist, and you're gonna tell my brother you love him. Get those done, and you've got my forgiveness."

She's asking a lot. It's nothing you can't handle.

…someday.

Maybe.

Eventually.

"I… I'm not ready for that yet," you whisper. "But I promise, when I am, I…"

She smiles, easy and brilliant. "Great. I'll look forward to it."

~

Yuu slumps in the doorway, heart racing. He hadn't really wanted to eavesdrop—honestly, his goal had been to sneak up on you, but then he'd caught the conversation, and, well—he couldn't just interrupt like that.

So he didn't. So he listened.

So he heard Satsuki tell you to tell him you loved him.

So he heard you agree, quiet.

So his heart has moved into his throat for the foreseeable future.

He clutches his chest, as though that will help him catch his breath. He bites back on every marry me that threatens to burst from his throat. He counts them, to keep calm, to add to his journal.

Fuck any rivalry with your shitty boyfriend. Fuck your stupid date this weekend. He's already won.

(Times Noya's held back: 28)

Tags: @deeplightgarden @idonthaveanameideayet @dusstory @kazunish

[thegigilwriter]

01 | “Danger & Star, Rooster & Angel” — Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x Female Mitchell OC

Summary: 26-year-old Lucy Asa Mitchell did not know what was in store for her when she first bumped into Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw. After an instant mutual connection followed by a sweet whirlwind romance that swept both their feet, Lucy found herself being immersed deeper into Bradley’s world of the Navy, F-14s, and deployments. What she didn’t expect was finding was the answer to an elusive part of her past — the identity of her long-lost father.

Masterlist

Keywords/Warnings: Romance, Inaccuracies of the Navy and Marine Biology

01 | Koi No Yokan 🎐

1 year after Top Gun: Maverick

Sunday May 28, 2023

Bradley

It was a sunny mid-morning in San Diego, and Bradley Bradshaw and Natasha Trace were taking the Bronco for a drive down a palm-adorned boulevard.

“Thanks again Rooster,ˮ Nat grinned as she basked in the daylight of the open air. “SʼAlways nice takinʼ a ride in the olʼ girl.ˮ

“Quiet now,ˮ Bradley replied, mocking hurt. “Sheʼll hear you, you know?ˮ

Nat rolled her eyes playfully, untucking her shades from the hem of her tank top and covering her eyes. Seagulls flew overhead, the taste of salt was in the atmosphere, and a lovely shade of blue began to appear on their horizon. Bradley licked his lips and stepped on the accelerator. He reminisced to himself about the beaches in Okinawa from his previous deployment. Sure, they were great but there is something about the California coastline you canʼt just feel the same way about anywhere else.

“You arrived at your destination,ˮ Google announced. “The Umi Research Center. ˮ A crystal dome came into view and steadily emerged as this enormous limestone edifice that was akin to the Parthenon.

Bradley pulled up by the docks and Nat jumped out as soon as the Bronco was in park.

“Wanna come with?ˮ She asked him.

“Iʼll stay put,ˮ Bradley reclined his seat. “Unless this Sam guy, needs to be forcibly removed from the premises?ˮ

“Well in that case, I can handle it myself, canʼt I?ˮ

Bradley turned on the radio and tugged at his Hawaiin-print shirt to fan himself. He watched as Natʼs figure disappeared into the entrance of the building. His attention was then directed towards the sea and the pristine boats that thudded against the docks. Natʼs own sedan was in the shop, so she called in a favor from Bradley to borrow his Bronco. Since there was no way her wheel was to be steered by any other set of hands other than his, Bradley opted to be a personal chauffeur to Nat and her first cousin, Sam, for the day.

The heat of the sun was beginning to wear down Bradley, so he took his keys from the ignition and hopped out for a quick walk on the dock. The cool sea breeze helped soothe the sunʼs scalding presence. It was on days like this when his parents used to take him to the beach as a little boy. But thatʼs all what those moments are now—memories. He stopped to stare at the water. A lot of people like to say he looked a lot like his father, and he agrees. But on some days, it feels like the man staring right back at him was a stranger.

Thud.

Bradley felt something collide against his back, and heard a clatter of things falling against the wooden walkway and a small gasp. He quickly turned around and beheld two boxes filled with audio tapes and folders tipped on their sides, and beside them, a young woman rose to her feet.

“I apologize,ˮ she breathed out as her frame got on her knees and began to return the contents to her boxes. “Iʼm afraid I wasnʼt watching where I was going...ˮ

She was wearing a navy-colored bathing suit underneath a white, fitted, cropped tee-shirt, and a sheer floral shawl tied around her waist. Her feet were clad in copper-colored slippers, her wrists were adorned with braided bracelets, her right ankle with a dainty metal chain, and her neck with a cross underneath a string of little, iridescent pearls. Bradley did not even realize he was on his knees with a tape in his hand, for his eyes simply could not part from her face. Mahogany waves framed her lovely visage and her dark-caramel eyes were cast to the floor beneath them.

“Um... do you mind?ˮ She smiled kindly at him.

“Huh?ˮ

“The tape — in your hand,ˮ she pointed.

“Oh — uh... Sorry,ˮ Bradley scratched the nape of his neck as he reached the tape over to her. Their fingers met and so did their gazes. Bradley chuckled and she shyly looked away.

“Again,ˮ she spoke, as she put one box on top of the other. “I apologize.ˮ

“None needed,ˮ Bradley finally collected himself. “Those look quite heavy, need a hand?ˮ

“If you donʼt mind, please.ˮ She sighed. Bradley eagerly lifted the boxes in his arms.

“Lead the way,ˮ he grinned.

“Thank you,ˮ she replied as they proceeded to cross the dock towards the research center.

“I donʼt recall seeing you around here,ˮ the woman stranger spoke. “Are you new?ˮ

“Nah, Iʼm here with a friend whoʼs picking up a cousin who works here. Apparently, he just came from Antartica.ˮ

“How intersting,ˮ she mused. “I was just stationed there.ˮ

“Youʼre a researcher?ˮ Bradley raised a brow.

“You seem amused.ˮ

“I didnʼt mean to—“ Bradley blushed.

Her laugh resonated, it was as clear as a spring and as sweet as her eyes. It was the kind of sound you wanted to play on repeat.

“I was simply kidding. I know fairly well the distresses of a woman in a man's world... I just choose to make the most fun I can out of it.ˮ

Bradley chuckled.

“You make ‘em underestimate you, then you pull the ground from under their feet like a riptide.ˮ

She looked at him with great consideration.

“You just see right through me, donʼt you?ˮ she teased.

“I think you did, otherwise we wouldnʼt be talking right now. Which would be unfortunate, of course.ˮ

She laughed once more, and Bradley smiled as they stepped into the marble-floored foyer after a swipe of her card at the door. For a research center, this was far grander than Bradley had imagined from the outside looking in. Tall, corinthian, columns lined the limestone walls on either side. In every space, oil paintings of founders with solemn and peaceful expressions resided there. The glass dome above filtered the sun rays into iridescent shards of light that danced on the cylindrical and tremendous aquarium in the center of the room. It housed vibrant schools of reef fish and brilliant coral, all so dramatically composed to evoke in every beholder pure awe. Bradley whistled, head tilted skywards with a gaping mouth.

“Glorious, isnʼt it?ˮ She chuckled at his expression. “Wait ‘til we really get inside.ˮ

Bradley trailed behind her as they crossed the foyer and climbed up the steps just a little bit past the elevators. The space alone was fit to be a ballroom for a grand royal celebration. Shelves and shelves of books lined the limestone curved against concave walls except in the very middle where a tall, rectangular window allowed a picturesque view of the ocean. In the center of the circular facility, a behemoth, holographic globe floated above a ring of conjoined computers. The remaining space was lined with bench tables and plush chairs.

“Welcome to Umi,ˮ The woman stranger smiled.

“The lights on the globe,ˮ Bradley asked her. “Are those your other branches?ˮ

“Every light represents a team of researchers from all divisions, all around the world.“

“Impressive,ˮ Bradley nodded.

“Umi is that and everything else,ˮ She sighed, as she turned towards the elevators.

“You must love working here with that shine of yours and all,ˮ He mused as they waited for a lift up.

“I do,ˮ she replied passionately. “The sea is my first love.ˮ The elevator doors parted open and Bradley followed her in.

“Do you have anything youʼre passionate about, Mr.—?ˮ She spoke to him. “Iʼm sorry I should have asked for your name—“

“Itʼs Bradley, Bradley Bradshaw. And if I may know yours?”

“Lucy,ˮ the woman smiled at him. “Lucy Mitchell.ˮ

“Lucy,ˮ Bradley repeated. “Like light.ˮ

“What?ˮ

“Thatʼs what your name means,ˮ he told her. “Explains the shine.ˮ

“Do you know the meaning of the names of every woman you meet, Mr. Bradshaw?ˮ Lucy raised a brow playfully. “I hate to admit how clever that is of a way to disarm any of us women.ˮ

“Oh yeah,ˮ Bradley played along. “I read about one name every day from my dictionary, yours just happened to pop up recently.ˮ

“Is that so?ˮ She chuckled. “Then I should warn the others, ‘There is a serial flatterer on the loose with an intent to charm!ʼ“

Bradley laughed.

“Iʼm surprised Iʼve kept up a conversation with you this long at all, to be honest.ˮ

“Now what makes you say that?ˮ Lucy cocked her head to the side.

Bradley wanted to say it was because Lucy Mitchell was beautiful and smart and young and hilarious and sophisticated despite the casual comfort her disposition exuded. That Bradley was old and truly awkward when it came to the really pretty girls that make him laugh. How he desired to so effortlessly make her know that she had a slot in his schedule for a dinner with him. Yes she was a stranger, but this entire interaction surely trumped any small talk he had over the previous online dates he set up and the lonesome evenings at the bar bench when women sauntered over to him to have a little fun for the night

Get off your perch and take the fucking shot, Rooster! He could hear Jake Seresin ringing in his ears.

“Lucy—“

“Lucy!ˮ

The elevator doors parted ajar once more, and in front of them, Nat and her cousin Sam were.

“What are you still doing here?ˮ Sam asked her as they stepped off the lift.

“I just remembered that we left some material on deck,ˮ Lucy replied as she gestured towards Bradley. “And this gentleman is helping me get them to my office.ˮ

“Gentleman, huh?ˮ Nat smirked as she leaned her elbow against Samʼs shoulder. She reached out her hand to Lucy.

“Nice to meet ya, the nameʼs Natasha Trace, but itʼs Nat for everybody.ˮ Lucy shook her hand.

“Likewise. Iʼm Lucy, Lucy Mitchell.ˮ

“I see youʼve already met my friend, Lieutenant Bradley,ˮ Nat had a Cheshire grin stretching across her face. Beyond Lucyʼs periphery, Bradley directed Nat a stern look. Nat quickly cocked her head towards Lucy.

“Sheʼs cute,ˮ she mouthed at him. Bradley raised his eyebrows in agreement.

“You must be Samʼs cousin,ˮ Lucy smiled at her. “He talks a lot about you.ˮ

“Aw, Sam!ˮ Nat cooed as she tucked her cousin under her arm and affectionally rubbed his hair. “My little cousin misses me that much?ˮ

“Only how annoying you are!ˮ Sam groaned. He was a young-looking fellow despite his age, a 23-year-old new grad looking like he just celebrated his 16th birthday. He was tall, lanky, and freckled. His dark and bold features are similar to Natʼs, but Sam’s looked a little softer around the edges, like a muted color compared to Natʼs natural exuberance.

“You—ugh.ˮ Sam struggled against Nat. “Must be Bradley, right?ˮ

“Nice to meet ya,ˮ Bradley confirmed.

“Donʼt let Lucy take those to her office,ˮ Sam finally escaped from Natʼs grasp. “Sheʼs been working non-stop in the expedition and I've been given strict orders that she shouldnʼt be here until next week.ˮ

“Oh come on, Sam!ˮ Lucy whined. “These are the mourning recordings! Weʼve never seen them sing like this! If Foster asks, just say I wasnʼt here!ˮ

“Sheʼll have my ass, that woman!ˮ Sam sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Lucy, go home. Compression Sickness is no light matter. Youʼre still recoveri—! You literally just went for a dive, did you?ˮ

“Perhaps,ˮ She replied nonchalantly. Sam groaned.

“Workaholic, huh?ˮ Nat remarked. “Listen, why donʼt you come out with us? Weʼre hitting the Pier today and catching a movie later. That way, Samʼs ass isnʼt grounded and I get a new girlfriend. Iʼm sure Rooster wonʼt mind, do you Rooster?ˮ

Natasha grinned at him smugly, as Lucy chuckled. They were both resigned to Natʼs insistence.

“Of course not,ˮ Bradley replied.

“That settles it,ˮ Nat smiled. “Meet us in the foyer.ˮ

They exchanged places, Nat and Sam towards the lifts and Bradley and Lucy towards the offices. As the doors closed, Natasha sneaked a quick wink in Bradleyʼs direction. In addition to that, her signature, ‘donʼt screw it upʼ look.

“I'm sorry about her,ˮ Bradley spoke as they walked the sun-lit hallways together towards her office. “She doesnʼt get to meet a lot of women in our line of work, and when she does theyʼre often not nice.ˮ

“I think your girlfriendʼs sweet,ˮ Lucy replied. “Sam thinks really highly of—“

“Sheʼs not my girlfriend,ˮ Bradley interjected.

“Oh,ˮ she closed her eyes briefly and shaking her head. “Iʼm sorry, I shouldnʼt have assumed. The both of you just seemed really comfortable with each other.ˮ

“Yeah we get that a lot,ˮ Bradley sighed, a wave of embarrassment washing over him at his premature response. “Sheʼs one of my best friends, thatʼs all. Weʼve known each other for over 15 years.ˮ

“Are you a naval aviator, yourself?ˮ

Lucy noted the swell in his chest and the small proud smirk that settled on his lips. “That I am.ˮ

They finally arrived at the office and Lucy promptly turned her key in the lock. The translucent door swung open and she quickly gestured towards the side of her desk where Bradley deposited the boxes.

“Thank you, Lieutenant.ˮ Lucy smiled.

“At your service,ˮ Bradley replied. As he bent down, she noticed a small, transverse cut in the inside of his left bicep. He was carrying them for much longer than she had anticipated and the upper corner of the top box must have done it. She opened the top cabinet on her table and retrieved a small metal box with a biscuit label.

“Those look good,ˮ Bradley remarked.

“Sorry to disappoint you, Lieutenant,ˮ Lucy laughed. “Iʼve already ate them all. You cut your arm, by the way.ˮ

“Oh would you look at that,ˮ he mused at the prickle of blood that began to emit. “The horror.ˮ

Lucy laughed again.

“Now, now,ˮ she played along as she ripped an antiseptic wipe open from its paper container. “This will all be over soon.ˮ

She pressed the wipe into his bicep. Her hands were dainty and soft and cool against his skin. He watched her eyebrows furrow just a little as she encountered a little resistance from placing a bandaid decorated with small, little fish— and regarded the way her tongue would poke from her lips. Bradley felt a searing heat in his chest and her touch had become so much more apparent to his senses.

“There we go,ˮ Lucy chuckled. “Crisis averted.ˮ Not quite, Bradley thought. Not quite.

A silence fell between them from the moment they left Lucyʼs office; to the moment Natasha elbowed Sam into the back seat with her (even though Sam wanted to call shotgun, but was then dismissed as Nat was playing wingman); to the moment they placed their orders at a nearby Shake Shack; to the moment they sat side by side through two movies at the theatre; and until now as they watched Sam and Nat board the Devilʼs Drop at Ruby Pier. It wasnʼt the awkward, painful kind of silence that say two middle school sweethearts would experience at a secret, last-minute first date as one or other try to make the first move. It was peculiar kind that was quite comforting.

Lucy tugged Bradleyʼs sleeve. He turned to her, very much endeared by this gesture.

“Wanna take a walk?ˮ She suggested.

“Might as well,ˮ he agreed. “Phoenix is an adrenaline junkie, sheʼs gonna try a couple of those kind of rides before sheʼs done.ˮ

“I feel bad leaving Sam,ˮ she frowned. “Heʼs terrified of dives, let alone those rides.ˮ

“I donʼt,ˮ Bradley kidded. “I get you all to myself.ˮ Lucy chuckled.

“Iʼm afraid I donʼt have a lot to offer with my companionship, Lieutenant, but I think those girls do.ˮ She cocked her head towards a herd of girls giggling in Bradleyʼs direction as they stared at him with glinting eyes.

“I gotta say,ˮ Bradley drawled. “Iʼm a bit offended that you think of me that way.ˮ

“How so?ˮ Lucy challenged with a smile.

“I think I can tell for myself the sort of woman I find interesting, little lady.ˮ

“And you happen to find me interesting?ˮ Lucy laughed.

“Very much so.ˮ

They stopped at a saltwater taffy stall as they began to cross the boardwalk. It was by far the grandest saltwater taffy stall on the Pier, decorated with exuberant colors and classy old-time fonts. The vendor was a short, Asian man in what appears to be his 50s, with smile lines and youthful eyes. His skin was the color of chocolate milk and his eyes were piercingly gray.

“Hello Manong,ˮ Lucy grinned at him.

The old manʼs eyes did not shift, but his lips broke into a great smile.

“Lucy!ˮ He exclaimed in a coarse voice. “How are you? Where have you been, silly girl?ˮ His English was perfectly American, but it did betray some intonations of his own mother tongue. Bradley watched as Lucy reached out her palm to his and pressed his knuckle against her forehead.

“Iʼve been well,ˮ she smiled. “I just arrived home today. Where is Victor? Have you been here all day?ˮ

“Now donʼt you worry sweet girl, I just came here for a short shift. Victor is at the hospital with Sherry. I think theyʼre going to have their third kid. His sisterʼs gonna pick me up in an hour.ˮ

“Itʼs the third one already?ˮ

“I know, Iʼm getting old!ˮ He raised his hands laughing as he proceeded to pack a bag for Lucy, working skillful behind the counter. “Youʼll have the usual one, yes? Now whatʼll your friend be having?ˮ

Bradley without having uttered a single word yet, stared at him. “Well, young man?ˮ

“Iʼll have the caramel swirls with raspberries please,ˮ Bradley replied. The old man chuckled as he got to work.

“This your girl?ˮ

“Manong!ˮ Lucy scolded, a blush quickly staining her cheeks.

“I tell you now that sheʼs a keeper!ˮ He laughed as he handed them their taffy. Bradley was ready to swipe his card, when the old man shook his head.

“On the house for sweet Lucy and her new friend!ˮ He said cheerily.

“Thank you Manong,ˮ Lucy smiled. “Youʼre a gem!ˮ

The old man waved at them as they walked farther down the boardwalk. Lucy gently opened her taffy, inhaling its delicious strawberry and vanilla fragrance before enjoying a pair of them. Bradley followed suit.

“That man was blind, wasnʼt he?ˮ Bradley asked her. Lucy nodded.

“Itʼs not just because of his age. His eyesight just suddenly began deteriorating,ˮ she explained. “His family is one of the oldest saltwater taffy makers in California. Victor is his eldest, and took over when his vision got worse.ˮ

“Iʼd say that heʼs one of the most clear-sighted people I ever met,ˮ Bradley said.

“I agree,ˮ she chewed on a vanilla taffy and covered her mouth as she spoke. “I didnʼt think he could tell that you were even there, much less a man. But he probably should never drive a plane, donʼt you think?ˮ

“Absolutely not,ˮ Bradley laughed. “But he did prove you wrong.ˮ Lucy gazed at him.

“That you, Lucy Mitchell, are indeed interesting.ˮ

They arrived at the near end of the boardwalk in silence. Lucy leaned against the railing, staring out into the ocean. The shards of rich light from the opalescent sky above glimmered all around them, and Bradley saw them dance in the irises of her eyes. Her tongue poked out from her smooth lips just as he had seen this morning. Her hair, like the sea before them, trembled at the wind. Then her gaze finally met his.

“I would say the same Lieutenant,ˮ she said to him. “If you spoke truthfully.ˮ

Bradley did not speak. There was a seriousness in the way she looked at him. He would wait for his turn.

“I am not a fickle woman or one who is easily flattered,ˮ she whispered. “But your words today meant greatly to me, and I canʼt help but think of your intentions. You say that Iʼm a riptide. That my passion shines through. Then you say that I am unexpectedly easy to talk to, and now you say that Iʼm interesting. But you’ve only just met me…”

“I donʼt want to you to misconstrue my intentions or yours, Lieutenant,ˮ she spoke bravely. “And I donʼt want to get my hopes up. But aside from all the things youʼve learned about me today, there is something else you should now... “

“Iʼm not one for casual relations. If someone must have me, then he must earn me first.ˮ

Lucy had fired the first shot.

At Natʼs insistence, she persuaded Lucy to let Bradley take her home instead of the taffy-manʼs daughter. To be fair, it was not too far from her apartment and the fact that Bradley got seven more minutes with Lucy was a bonus on account of Natʼs wingman game. She gave a thumbs up to Bradley before assisting a nauseated Sam from the backseat of the Bronco. Lucy and Bradley were once more enveloped in silence, but it was not as comfortable as it had been during their day out together.

“Hereʼs me,ˮ Lucy told him, hopping out of the Bronco.

Bradley turned the ignition off and walked her to the gate of her quaint, little apartment complex. Three rusty-colored brick buildings surrounded a small courtyard with flower gardens and a concrete fountain with small koi.

“I guess this is it,ˮ Lucy smiled. “It was nice meeting you, Lieutenant. Thank you for the ride home.ˮ

As she turned towards the gate to unlock it, all Bradley could think about was the shots he was too reluctant to take — both in the air and his life. So in that moment, in the crimson light of dusk, his fingers instinctively bound themselves around her wrist. She looked at him in surprise, her sweet, caramel eyes glowing in the sunset.

“This morning you asked me what I was passionate about,ˮ he told her. “Even if I did have the time to answer, I wouldnʼt have known what to say to you because as much as I love to fly and...play music—I donʼt— I donʼt think thereʼs anything I love like how you love the sea. I havenʼt found it yet. A-Anyways, Iʼm probably talking stupid right now, but all Iʼm trying to say is... do you want to help me find out?ˮ

“What?ˮ Lucy uttered in a small voice, stunned.

Bradley tried breathing, but suddenly found it very hard to with the thunderous beating in his chest.

“Will you, Lucy Mitchell, go on an official date with me?ˮ

Her silence made him quiver. Despite how clear her gaze was, there was no telling of the tumultuous thoughts that ran behind it.

“Is it because you felt bad for me? For what I said at the Pier?ˮ Lucy asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

“Not at all,ˮ Bradley insisted. “If anything, it just made my intentions for you clearer.ˮ

“I date to marry Lieutenant and I donʼt settle for less,ˮ she told him firmly.

“Is that supposed to scare me?ˮ

Lucy gazed at him considerably before speaking.

“Is this Saturday okay for you?ˮ

“You can have me by tomorrow,ˮ Bradley grinned.

“Wow Lieutenant,ˮ she chuckled. “Donʼt you think this is going a little too fast?ˮ

“Iʼm a pilot,ˮ he smirked. “Iʼm basically supersonic.ˮ

God, he loved the way she hid her giggles behind her dainty fingers.

“Alright then,ˮ Lucy spoke. “Tomorrow at 1400, come pick me up. Weʼll go to Sitaʼs on Newport Avenue at Ocean Beach and go from there.ˮ

“Itʼs a date,ˮ Bradley smiled.

“Goodnight, Lieutenant.ˮ

“Itʼs Bradley, for you.ˮ

“Goodnight, Rooster.ˮ

Bradley laughed again.

“Goodnight, Angel.ˮ

Fun Fact! “Koi no Yokan” is a Japanese saying, which means love at second sight. It is described as a feeling of inevitably falling for someone. Jump to their first date at 02 | Halo-Halos by Beach! DM to be tagged!

[hypnos333]

Koi no yokan

Kim Seungmin x reader

Synopsis: Knowing you’re going to fall for him eventually.

Koi no yokan doesn’t mean love in first sight, it’s closer to love at second sight, it’s the feeling when you meet someone that you’re going to fall in love with them. Maybe you won’t love them right away, but it’s inevitable that you will.

In your case the second you met Seungmin, you had this strange feeling you never felt before but you thought nothing of it.

You both first met in your favorite cafe, after you ordered your regular order before accidentally sitting across someone at their table. When you noticed them you instantly apologized.

He was a handsome guy, who was just stairing at you with a cup of coffee and a red velvet cake beside it.

“I’m so sorry,Sir I wasn’t paying attention and-“You can sit here” he interrupted you with a smile. You let go of your apple pie with ice cream leaving it where it was with your hot cocoa.

“What’s your name?” He asked you liking how clueless you are when you still haven’t noticed who he was.

“My name is ___, What’s yours?” You asked back making him tilt his head adorably.

“My name is Seungmin” He answered as he watched you take a bite on the pie and you seemed to noticed his glaze because you took a fork full of pie and held it to his mouth.

“This is my favorite thing to get from the Cafe, they have the best apple pie” You stated proudly making him take a bite without hesitation. For some reason he trusted you and would take your word for everything without hesitation.

He slowly chew on the apple pie before his eyes went wide with how right you were. “T-This is so good” He said craving more.

“See I told you! Try it with the ice cream it tastes even more better” You said giving him a second fork filled but this time with vanilla ice cream on it. He gladly let you feed him the pie smiling in enjoyment.

You ate the rest of the pie feeding him most of it at the end, and then Seungmin remembered he still had his red velvet cake and you were packing up to leave.

So Seungmin secretly packed the cake and wrote a little letter as you left to the bathroom and put it in your bag when you left it with him. “I’m so sorry Seungmin but I have to attend a meeting, goodbye” You said rushing for your bag and leaving him before he could say goodbye.

As you made it in your car you forgot to ask for his number, you weren’t in love but it was a different feeling. You looked in your bag for your phone until you saw a red velvet cake and a fork in a clear container with a hand written note.

I had a good time with you maybe we can hang out again and show me different foods or desserts - Seungmin

You smiled hoping you’ll see him again before pulling out the parking lot to head to that meeting.

A week pass by and your back to your favorite cafe, you been thinking about Seungmin 24/7 and you miss his smile and clueless look.

You were an absolute foodie and this time you ordered a brownie sundae. You sit at a table waiting for the waitress to bring your order till a guy sat across of you making you confuse before realizing it’s Seungmin.

You squeal in excitement before rushing over to him and hugged him. “Well someone missed me” He said jokingly.

“I did miss you” You said with no hesitation making him blush. “I missed you too Love bug” He said back.

You pulled away slightly where he can see your face “Love bug?” you asked dumb founded making him laugh.

“What? it’s cute” he whined making you roll your eyes playfully before going back to your seat. The same time the waitress came with your order, you thanked her noticing she been staring at Seungmin in shocked before she rushed away.

“What are we trying now love bug?” He asked excitedly just wanting to enjoy his time with you quickly.

You scooped a spoon full of ice cream before putting it in his mouth as he opened it slightly for you to feed him. “It’s a brownie sundae, it’s another thing I love here” You said as he swallowed the frozen treat.

“Mmm” he said enjoying the flavor.

With this Seungmin felt human around like he was a normal, regular person and he loved it. You just saw him a normal citizen instead of a famous k-pop singer.

You were falling for him and he was falling harder for you. Koi no yokan was a thing between them where they just fell in love after time.

[galvanizedfriend]

Hey, I'm new to KC fanfics...any good authors you know of+their works? Just stated reading TW series and it's so good!

Hi, nonnie! Thank you, I'm very glad you're enjoying The Wolf! 😊

This fandom is luckily blesses with many good writers. If you search for Klaroline Fic Rec on my blog, I've done tons of rec lists over the years.

But to rec some:

Just about anything by @definedareasofuncertainty , or coveredinthecolors on AO3. You'll find her works here. I'm a fangirl and will vouch for absolutely everything she has ever written. One of my all-time favorite authors, who has a brilliant Klaus voice and one of the most evocative and colorful writings in fandom.

@cupcakemolotov is a fandom legacy writer for a reason. There are more than 200 (!!!!!) fics for you to choose from and they are all brilliant! There's something for every taste, seriously cannot go wrong. Works here.

Borzoi has sadly only ever posted on FF.net, but you will not regret a trip to the past to read her works. You'll find some of all-time favorite fics here. If I had to rec one, it would be Parisian Deal, but Paradise Lost is fantastic too. Works here.

@highgaarden, who's but_seriously on AO3. Hannah has also written some of my favorite fics. This is a Harvest has a special place in my heart. But I have read almost everything she has ever written, and it's all fantastic. Works here.

@kirythestitchwitch writing is just delicious, the type that you can't get enough of because as soon as you start reading you just become addicted. Perfect dialogue, perfect wit, perfect characterization and Mikaelson shenanigans! Works here.

@morningstargirl666 has an epic TVD rewriting that starts all the way from a retelling of the Originals' past, and it's honestly impossible not to embrace it as canon after reading it. Works here.

Another one of my all-time favorites: @lalainajanes! Some faaaaantastic one shots and brilliant multi-chaps that worked as gateway drugs for me when I starting to read KC fics. Colored You In is perfection! But just over 200 fics for you to choose from. It's a feast. Works here.

@misssophiachase writes some of the best KC rom-coms fics, the type that just warms you heart and makes you fall in love with them in any setting. I'm WEAK for a good rom com and she has many to choose from! Works here.

These are just some of my favorites! 😊 But like I said, if you check out my recs lists, you'll find many more. Hope you find something there to your liking, nonnie!

[bevswashere]

Koi No Yokan

Juju Stroll: The Call

Satoru arrives late in the evening, once again dissatisfied with the overly tidy appearance of his “home.” There’s nothing out of place, no clothes strewn about, or crooked photos to line the wall. A shell, husk, for him to exist in before leaving for the outside world again. His room at Tokyo High never looked like this. It was warm and lived in, most especially after Kaede began to stay—but it’s best not to think about Kaede at all when he’s alone like this.

His phone ringing in his pocket pulls him from his thoughts, an unknown number. Ignore. Missions will come from the same few numbers they always do, probably spam or some distant relative trying to bug him for money.

Satoru lets himself fall into his couch, expensive sure, but not used often enough for the cushions to sink. He thinks to watch a movie, maybe take a nap, something to let the hours go by until he’s needed again, but he does exactly what he’d told himself not to. “I wonder what she’s doing right now.” “Graduation just happened, didn’t it?” “Should I call to congratulate her? Text?”

The phone rings again, the same unknown number. He lets it pass. “I wonder if she’s going to pay for hire.” “It doesn’t seem very like her.” The same number tries to call again. “Leave a message if it’s that important,” Satoru groans, letting his head fall back against the couch, neck craned up towards the ceiling. “Maybe I could bother Nanami to find out how she’s doing.” The phone rings once again, and this time Satoru, patience lost, answers, “Hey! Stop calling me, you have the wrong—”

“I assume you already know where our main facility is.” Satoru turns to stone in his seat. How long had it been since he’d heard that voice? “She’s waiting for you at the front doors.” The call ends before he can get a word in, before Satoru can get past his heart beating out of his chest.

Satoru throws his head forward into his palms, tugging at the roots of his hair. “Idiot,” he scolds himself. He’d given up the world in an effort to break the ties these people held to him, the restraints that kept him from truly being the strongest. And yet, every time they step back into his life, he finds himself exactly where they had left him. Even during the get-together a couple weeks ago, “Why did I run to check up on her?” “Why did I pay attention to nothing other than her movements, her voice?”

“Why am I so weak?” 

[emotsper]

Okay okay.

So ya know about my AU right? The pjsk+jjk AU, yeah?

Okay so like another thing I wanna talk about is that during the Stalker Arc within my AU. When Airi is like in hospital.

She would actually go through a sort of limbo journey.

And like I’ve been brainstorming a bit how it’ll look like and the general direction/concept of it.

So bam! Airi “wakes up” inside an empty train (yes it’s gonna be the train based on Re-tied Friendship Trian).

Airi is confused for she’s unsure where she is, for she doesn’t remember taking a train. In fact. She can’t really remember anything. Not even her name.

But before she ponders on that, a voice calls out.

“You’re awake now, Airi-Chan?”

In which Airi looks up from her seat and sees…

(This Shizuku has the Spirit Parade Hairstyle + Glasses, but she wears a Train Conductor outfit)

Someone who looks like the train conductor, and yet. Airi can’t help but feel a deeply familiar and very deep connection with this person.

When Airi just stares at the unknown and yet familiar stranger, the Train conductor simply continues with a small giggle, “You were very cute sleeping like that.”

In which Airi blushes as she quickly apologized for sleeping. The taller girl shakes her head, “It’s quite alright, Airi-Chan. I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself within my train.”

So my name is Airi… The amnesiac girl thought before asking, “Your train, huh… Where is this train going?”

The Train conductor simply smiles warming before walking down the aisle.

“Wa-Wait! You didn’t answer my question!” Airi gets up as she follows the mysterious girl.

“We’re going to a very wonderful place.” The train conductor pause to turn toward Airi, “A very peaceful place.”

Airi paused before pouting out, “That… doesn’t really answer my question…”

The other girl simply smiles, “You’ll see. During the meantime. Please enjoy yourself.”

The Train conductor puts her hands out as a silver hand bell magically appears in a mist of golden powder. “If you ever feel famish, just ring this bell and we’ll deliver you any meal your heart desires.”

Airi hesitatingly grab the bell as she examined it the object. She gave it a shake but no ring comes out.

But shortly after a cart appeared with plates of different shapes of Japanese, ranging from Dango to Yokan.

“Whoa…”

The taller girl does a small bow, “May your trip here be pleasant. I’ll be on my way now.”

And with that. The Conductor left, but Airi still can’t shake this feeling that something is off.

Okay! So enough of my awful writing, it’s time for me to explain more about this sort of Train Limbo that Airi is in! >:Dc

So that Train Conductor is of course a manifestation of Airi’s memories of Shizuku, but only an aspect of Shizuku. The more “Cheerful*Days” Shizuku. Who’s more mysterious and seemingly mature. But she also represents Shizuku’s more scared and worried side of Shizuku. Hence the conflict of the Train Conductor Shizuku insists that the train must continue heading towards “the destination” (the afterlife) for she’s terrified of all the danger and pain that Airi will encounter if she goes back to the real world.

Okay so TC Shizuku is the antagonist of this Limbo journey, but wait. Only an aspect of Shizuku?

Why yes. Because there’s another manifestation of Shizuku within this train as well. In a form of a rabbit that Airi will encounter through her journey through the train carts.

(Airi trying to comfort an injured Rabbit Shizuku after it got hurt by a Black Maine Coon Cat that represents Mai)

So basically there will be two manifestation versions of all the people Airi knows, a human version where they are the staff members within the train, and an animal version.

The Rabbit Shizuku is more in line with the Shizuku we all know and love. Airhead and all~

But she also represent Shizuku’s will to keep on going and the courage to be strong despite just being a small rabbit. Hence Rabbit Shizuku helps Airi to get the key that’ll led her back to the real world.

Okay. So like. Each train carts would represent a stage within Airi’s life. Like the first one she goes to would be her childhood. The next would be when she was first got inspired to be an idol. Then the next would represent that she met Shizuku (basically meeting Rabbit Shizuku for the first time). And so fort!

So yeah! Those are my general ideas for Airi’s Limbo journey that will be happening simultaneously at the same time during Shizuku’s depression/recovery arc. :3c 

Sorry for the long ask! >x<;

wait wait im seated. this one sounds so fucking cool actually. i like this kind of concept .

but also i find it funny how this is just Straight Up airi on the verge of death and not my usual flavor of pandemonium szai related death (ignore me i use humor to cope)

[kazooreal]

Hiraeth TL

(i have been translating a LOT recently, pleaaase ask me if u want my google docs folder! most songs in fictions are done + some of my older TLs from other albums! enjoy~)

ヒラエス　斉藤壮馬

hiraesu - saitou souma

Hiraeth - Soma Saito

たとえば、誰かとすれ違い　なぜだか

tatoeba, dareka to sure chigai nazeda ka

For instance, when passing by someone, why is it that

処理落ち　世界の時が止まったり

shori ochi sekai no toki ga tomattari

Unprocessed collapse, and the world’s time stops

どこかでなにかを忘れてきたような

doko ka de nani ka wo wasurete kita you na

As if somewhere, something had been forgotten

予感がふと訪れたら

yokan ga futo otozuretara

After a premonition suddenly visited

あるいは、木の葉が舞い散る季節や[1]

arui ha, hon no ha ga maichiru kisetsu ya

Or, the words of a book scatter, seasons and

風の音　ふとした戯言なんかに

kaze no oto futo shita zaregoto nanka ni

The sound of the wind, and suddenly; nonsensically, even,

どうしようもなくね　デジャヴがよぎる

doushiyou mo naku ne dejabu ga yogiru

It’s hopeless. Déjà-vu passes over,

毒が混ざる

doku ga mazaru

Mixed with poison

美しい記憶だわ

utsukushii kioku da wa

What a beautiful memory

なんて身勝手な

nante migatte na

How selfish

ぬるま湯に溺れて痛いな

nuruma yu ni oborete itai na

It hurts to drown in lukewarm water, doesn’t it

ダーザイン　ゆらいで

daazain yuraide

Dasein; swaying [2]

空を切るQはA

sora wo kiru Q ha A

Slicing the sky, Q is A

答えを求めているよ

kotae wo motometeiru yo

I need the answer, please!

ああ 掌からこぼれた

aa tenohira kara koboreta

Ah, it spilled out from the palm of my hand

幾億の祈りの残滓

ikuoku no inori no zanshi

The leftovers of billions of prayers

二度とは開けない　土の深い底

nido to ha akenai tsuchi no fukai soko

It can’t be opened again, the deep abyss of the soil

タイムカプセルは眠らせたまま

taimukapuseru ha nemuraseta mama

The time capsule has been left asleep

懐かしい場所ごと　星に還したら

natsukashii basho goto hoshi ni kaeshitara

If every nostalgic place were to return to the stars

バクテリアが食べてくれる

bakuteria ga tabetekureru

The bacteria would eat it

もどかしくもあるけど

modokashiku mo aru kedo

Although it can be tedious

不思議とどこか

fushigi to doko ka

In some way, it's fascinating

満ち足りたような気もするから

michitarita you na ki mo suru kara

Since there's also a feeling of satisfaction

さよなら もまたね も

sayonara mo mata ne mo

'Goodbye', and 'see you later',

言わずにこのまま

iwazu ni kono mama

Without saying, just like that

砕け散ってしまえばいいよ

kudakechitte shimae ba ii yo

If they end up smashed up, it's fine

ああ あのころに戻れないなら

aa ano koro ni modorenai nara

Ah, because I can't go back to that time

せめてこの身 焼き尽くして

semete kono mi yakitsukushite

Just, burn this body to the ground

整合性など

seigousei nado

Conformity, compliance and the like

捨ておけ だろ?

sute oke daro?

Cast it away, no? [3]

正当性など

seitousei nado

Lawfulness, and validity [4]

ああ

aa

Ah,

灰にきらめく過去を

hai ni kirameku kako wo

The past, glimmering in the ashes

日常が上書きしていく

nichijou ga uwagaki shiteiku

Our everyday was overwritten

きっと

kitto

Surely

もう二度とはない

mou nido to ha nai

It'll never happen again

名前も失くしてしまうよ

namae mo nakushite shimau yo

You'll get rid of your name, too

もう二度とはない

mou nido to ha nai

It'll never happen again

[Hiraeth: A deep grief or longing for something that feels like home.]

[1] 葉 (ha) means ‘leaves’, which would fit more with the ‘seasons’ mentioned in this line, but I opted for ‘words’ because 葉 is also present in 言葉, meaning ‘words’

[2] Dasein: a philosophical term roughly describing how humans uniquely engage with the world (rather than how objects, plants, etc. do). though it’s much more complicated, so do read on it! i love when souma-san teaches us philosophy!!

[3] a combination of the strong imperative おけ and the expression だろ, which usually conveys uncertainty.

[4] decided to provide two definitions for the 3 kanji words here. the line just feels too short otherwise. stylistic choice.

this song cuts deep :(

if nostalgia or longing is the theme of Fictions, then Hiraeth is the central song of the album (it is, by the way). this song is full of bitterness; memories that were created with joy grow into dull reminders of what once was. it only makes the present seem less like a gift. this song recalls the type of memory that feels so distant, so different from how things are now, and how you are now, that it's no longer something you can connect with.. and it just makes your chest hurt. i'm sure we all have one of those.

side note: I tried to not use pronouns because of how abstract and therefore impersonal the song is (which, paradoxically, means it can apply to a wide range of people), but felt like adding a couple for emphasis :P

thank you for another amazing song, Souma-san! he really is a genius T_Tttt

[yuri-is-online]

I just wanted to say your posts single-handedly made me like Sho and I made a new account with him as my starter.

I'm still not through with ch2 on my first account (why are the battles so hard I only have 2 SRs to help me and rainbow apples are so limited T-T) so at that point I'd only seen Sho ignore mc and remember getting a short campus event where he literally goes "Oh it's just you, what do you want" or something along those lines so I thought he'd be just as bad as Leo lol. And ngl his design wasn't one of my favorites? But I'm the type who quickly grows on whoever I decide to like so now I love him and his silly bandana and the fact he literally wheels around with Bonnie in fights lol.

I'm especially curious about the Like Dove thing and how it works, initially I thought it was a conscious decision to send (like how Kaito assumed the gossiping girls sent it over for him/Luca) but I sincerely doubt anyone in Vagastrom was popular enough to get one (just bc they're scary) so why did it show up in front of mc and Sho when they barely had talked at that point??? Did he already like her or is it more like a "koi no yokan" thing?? I'm so curious about it. Does it show up in ch3 too? I don't see much mention of it.

Anyways, thank you for your Sho drabbles I love reading them sm!! Honestly I wish someone would upload the whole story somewhere so I can play the game at my own pace bc rn I'm just ITCHING to dump resources and try to get ahead (unsuccessfully)

;-; I am so sorry I made you start another account annon. I send love towards your rolls and ward you against the urge to spend money.

I also thought Sho was going to be just as bad as Leo and didn't like his design. The more he actually talked to MC and just in general the more that changed. He's not that bad of a guy at the end of the day, just loyal to a fault. I even like his little bandanna now, it's cute.

From the way Kaito describes the like dove I personally took it to mean that it was attracted to strong positive feelings towards someone. It can't exactly be sent somewhere because it is a sentient anomalous and independent animal. There are a few explanations for how the writers determine when it shows up, so I'll just work through my thoughts here.

The boring answer: stealing this one from someone on reddit, but the Like Dove shows up when MC starts making progress on getting close to the ghouls in the dorm. It shows up in Chapter 21 of Book 2 because Leo uses MC's enhancement and Sho feels sorry for her. I don't like this answer as much because it does not exactly explain why the Like Dove does not show up until the end of Book 3, as at least 2/3 of Jabberwock's ghouls like her pretty much from the start.

Still boring but slightly more fun answer: the like dove shows up when MC starts to have or accepts having positive feelings towards the ghouls around her. It appears in Chapter 21 and at the end of Book 3 because MC feels like she's really starting to help their dorms. This does not exactly work with Kaito's explanation that the dove comes to you when someone has positive feelings towards you.

"Yuri is doing lines of cope again" crack answer: I think describing it as a "koi no yokan" type thing probably makes the most sense. Kaito certainly seems to think of it as indicating romantic feelings, but he's a bit of a hopeless romantic so I'll take him with a pinch of salt. The Dove in Book 2 specifically appears after 1) Sho sees Leo and MC sitting on the couch together and asks if they're a thing and 2) MC asks about Sho's cooking. I don't think Sho ever really thought negatively of MC, he doesn't seem to have thought much about her at all. He describes Luca and MC as "normies" who he doesn't think Leo should waste time on, so no real hatred just indifference. Indifference that changes to reluctant fondness that same night when Leo forces him to stay behind by lying and MC compliments his cooking. So yeah, it shows up when someone has a sense that they could have strong positive feelings towards her. You could also say that it came due to the positive feelings Leo had about the ring helping him spy on Tohma and Alan, but I prefer to think it was from Sho. Because fuck Leo.

As you might have gathered the dove does show up again in Book 3, I forget the exact chapter but it's around when Haru promises to help MC with her curse. It's also the only dove that has showed up with all members of a house present, which is one of the reasons I like Jabberwock so much, best house fr fr. I will keep my eye out for it in Book 4 and keep you all updated, if you like my anon friend I'll try to make a summary post of the story so you can know what's going on while you try to convince the game to let you through. I am rooting for you!

[angel-kyo]

koi no yokan

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6.

"Thanks." You grabbed the soda Nanami was handling you.

You two had just finished a mission and stopped by a convenience store to buy something to drink.

After a while, Nanami spoke. "You have been quiet."

"I thought you didn't want me making small talk." The words had come out harsher than you had intended and he glanced at you. "Sorry", you muttered, "I..."

"I'm sorry if I gave you that impression. But I did not mean you are quiet just today. I thought you liked talking to Haibara, but he thinks so too as of the last few days." He did not sound bothered, rather, if you squinted, he seemed a little concerned. "Is something bothering you?"

"Not at all!", you blurted out too fast, loud enough for a couple of bystanders to spare a glance in your direction. You cleared your throat and repeated softer this time "I mean, no, there is nothing bothering me."

The real answer had assaulted your mind at full speed. There is something bothering me. That library thing. The fact I could not fight and the fact I have no idea of what would have happened if I had. The fact that I had to be saved. That Gojo kid. The possibility of being weaker than I thought. Not that you could tell him all that.

Nanami nodded. "I see. My apologies then. We should get going." He got up and started walking.

It was true you were not usually sent on missions alone with Kento, and when you did, most times, Yu was around to strike up conversation among the three of you. But you hadn't felt uncomfortable until now. Lying to someone's face was a way to upset them, so maybe a little honesty would not hurt.

"I've just been thinking...", you started, "Nanami, if you were to rate my strength on a scale of 1 to 10, what would you give me?"

He seemed to think for a couple of seconds, still walking by your side.

"A strong 6."

"Straight forward..." You wanted to ask what he would rate himself, but you didn't.

"Don't take it the wrong way. You will probably become stronger. I just don't think being a sorcerer is all about strength though, so I wouldn't think much of it."

You nodded and continued walking in silence until you reached station.

Besides, there is always a shortage of sorcerers. It does not matter if neither of us is strong; we have to fight because we can. That thought crossed Nanami's mind as he waited for your train to arrive, but he remained silent.

As the train entered the station, you looked at Nanami. "You are right," you spoke, and he wondered if you were still thinking of what he had said, some remorse dawning on him, "I like talking to Haibara, but I like talking to you as well." You smiled at him and got in the train.

However blunt, Nanami's words had given you some comfort. But your words just now had made a light blush appear on his face. It was a shame you had not seen it.

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