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rainbowdelicgalore · 3 years

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🌈🌈 With all the comfort characters :DD

HOO BOY HERE WE GO!!

I have quite a lot atm, but we'll have fun with it. Its gonna be a long ride!!

ALL UNDER THE CUT!!

Tigger (Winnie the Pooh): Panromantic Pansexual + Ambonec (any pronouns) + ADHD

Minky Momo (Magical Princess Minky Momo) (also a kintype but whateves): Panromantic Pansexual + Demigirl (she/they) + Autistic

Princess Lei (Magical Princess Minky Momo): Homoromantic Homosexual + Genderfluid (any pronouns)

Sindbook (Magical Princess Minky Momo): Homoromantic Asexual + Nonbinary (they/them)

Mocha (Magical Princess Minky Momo): Homoromantic Homosexual (gay) + Genderfluid (any pronouns) + ADHD

Pipiru/Pipil (Magical Princess Minky Momo): Homoromantic Homosexual (lesbian) + Femme Nonbinary (they/she)

Jingle (Hamtaro): Biromantic Bisexual + Poly + Agender (they/them)

Stan (Hamtaro): Panromantic Pansexual + Demiboy (he/they)

Hamtaro (Hamtaro): Aromantic Asexual + Demiboy (he/they)

Mary Bell (Floral Magician Mary Bell): Panromantic Pansexual + Poly + Femme Nonbinary (they/she/flowers/flowerself) + Autistic

Tambourine (Floral Magician Mary Bell): Biromantic Bisexual + Demiboy (he/they)

Sally Yumeno (Sally the Witch): Homoromantic Homosexual (lesbian) + Femme Nonbinary (they/she)

Yoshiko "Yo-Chan" Hanamura (Sally the Witch): Homoromantic Homosexual (lesbian) + Demigirl (she/they)

Dabu-Dabu (80s Sally the Witch): Biromantic Asexual + Nonbinary (they/them)

Atsuko "Akko-Chan" Kagami (Himitsu no Akko-Chan): Homoromantic Homosexual (lesbian) + Demigirl (she/they)

Prince/ss Sapphire (Princess Knight): Biromantic Bisexual + Genderfluid (any pronouns)

Yuu Morisawa/Creamy Mami (Magical Angel Creamy Mami): Panromantic Bisexual + Nonbinary (they/them)

Poji (Magical Angel Creamy Mami): Homoromantic Bisexual + Demigirl (she/they)

Nega (Magical Angel Creamy Mami): Biromantic Asexual + Masc Nonbinary (they/he)

Lunlun Flowers (Hana no Ko Lunlun): Biromantic Bisexual + Poly + Demigirl (she/they)

Cateau (Hana no Ko Lunlun): Homoromantic Homosexual (lesbian) + Demigirl (she/they)

Nouveau (Hana no Ko Lunlun): Homoromantic Asexual + Demiboy (he/they)

Mako Urashima (Mako the Mermaid): Biromantic Bisexual (leans towards men) + Femme Nonbinary (they/she)

Lalabel (Lalabel, the Magic Girl): Homoromantic Bisexual + Poly + Demigirl (she/they)

Persia Hayami (Persia, the Magic Fairy): Panromantic Pansexual + Poly + Genderfluid (any pronouns) + Autistic

Simba (Persia, the Magic Fairy): Homoromantic Bisexual + Demiboy (he/they)

Satomi "Limit-Chan" Nishiyama (Miracle Girl Limit-Chan): Homoromantic Asexual + Agender (they/them)

Melmo Watari (Marvelous Melmo): Biromantic Bisexual + Bigender (she/he)

Etsuko "Ecchan" (Sarutobi Ecchan): Homoromantic Asexual + Nonbinary (they/them)

Pollon (Little Pollon): Biromantic Pansexual + Femme Nonbinary (they/she)

Sweet Mint Ming (Magical Angel Sweet Mint): Biromantic Bisexual + Poly + Demigirl (she/they)

Miho Shinohara (Fancy Lala, the Magic Stage): Biromantic Bisexual + Demigirl (she/they) + Autistic

Pigu (Fancy Lala, the Magic Stage): Biromantic Pansexual + Masc Nonbinary (they/he)

Mogu (Fancy Lala, the Magic Stage): Biromantic Pansexual + Femme Nonbinary (they/she)

Komugi Nakahara/Yoshida (Nurse Witch Komugi + R): Panromantic Bisexual + Femme Nonbinary (they/she)

IL-HO/KAT-1 (The Satellite Girl and Milk Cow): Biromantic Bisexual + Agender (they/them)

Eriru (Mermaid Melody): Panromantic Pansexual + Poly + Genderfluid (any pronouns) + ADHD

Hippo (Mermaid Melody): Aromantic Asexual + Demiboy (he/they)

Princess Comet (Cosmic Baton Girl Comet-San): Biromantic Pansexual + Femme Nonbinary (they/she) + Autistic + ADHD

Rubba Ball (Cosmic Baton Girl Comet-San): Biromantic Asexual + Masc Nonbinary (they/he)

Red Riding Hood Chacha (Azukakin Chacha): Panromantic Pansexual + Femme Nonbinary (they/she) + Autistic

Beavis (Beavis and Butthead): Biromantic Bisexual (leans towards women) + Trans Man (he/him) + ADHD

Apple Pie (Food Fantasy): Panromantic Pansexual + Demigirl (she/they) + Autistic

Strawberry "Double" Scoop (Food Fantasy): Biromantic Bisexual + Genderfluid (any pronouns)

Glen Ray (Seed of Chucky/Child's Play Franchise): Homoromantic Homosexual (gay) + Genderfluid (any pronouns) + Autistic

Glenda Ray (Seed of Chucky/Child's Play Franchise): Homoromantic Homosexual (lesbian) + Genderfluid (any pronouns) + Autistic + ADHD

Songbird Serenade (MLP Movie): Panromantic Pansexual + Demigirl (she/they, but uses any pronouns) + Autistic

Applejack (MLP:FIM): Biromantic Bisexual + Demigirl (she/they)

I hope you really enjoy all of these and have an awesome day!!

#🌈 fozz's ask games #ask games #answered ask

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nozomuaoyama · 3 years

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DVHS Reactions - 1.4

Me: waits two weeks to read 1.3 Also me: reads 1.4 the day after

Sticky note:

ishikawa camila - linguist - F abe fumito - historian - M maeda hayao - track star - M rikimaru kirika - hairstylist - F matsumoto takeshi - carpenter - M - D aoyama nozomu - blogger - M saito kagami - archer - F ueda miyuki - figure skater - F hamasaki utako - guitarist - F fujimoto hidekazu - songwriter - M ikeda kazuhiko - massage therapist - M kadoshima yasu - friend - G sasaki hanayo - herbalist - F yoshida etsuko - lucky student - F oshiro amaya - astrologist - F nakamura ikuo - charmer - M

Do you have the trial room layout? I assume Camila has the protagonist spot. This Monokuma seems…more chill, somehow. “Plus, the podiums are bolted into the ground. It'd be a pain to move them any time one of you twerps kicked it." Aww, no Scrum Debate? Perhaps the weapon was a wall? Or the door! Which is why it was closed. Oshiro being ominous. (If she’s the Chapter 3 killer though…) I would pay to see a fist fight between Aoyama and Yoshida. They would both fight dirty. Did Abe, too, listen to Kyoko’s explanation about locked rooms? I know Fusion said V3 ties into this somehow… The culprit could probably easily have taken a bobby pin out from someone’s hair. Or pocket. *clapping emojis* girlf…riends… Are they trying to break the kids out? Is that…the mastermind? …no, I don’t think so. Is it Abe / the traitor? Is it the same people that hijacked the intercom? (I am so set on Abe being the traitor, huh? I blame Iris.) …Why Matsumoto, though? Especially considering he’s stronger than she is. Also! I read some little bits of the BTHB (the non spoilery ones), and my conclusion is that I now ship Ikeda and Saito, and I want more Camila and Abe friendship. (This was not from the BTHB, I just think it.)

#dvhs #i read dvhs

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mythgirlimagines · 1 year

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If DVHS were mythical creatures, what would they be? :D Can be obscure!

Some of these are Stretches bc I couldn't really think of anything ^^' I got all these from here

Abe Fumito: Phoenix

Aoyama Nozomu: Poltergeist

Fujimoto Hidekazu: Banshee

Hamasaki Utako: Siren

Ikeda Kazuhiko: Will-o-the-wisp

Ishikawa Camila: Vampire

Kadoshima Yasu: Nymph

Maeda Hayao: Werewolf

Matsumoto Takeshi: Elf

Nakamura Ikuo: Incubus

Oshiro Amaya: Angel

Rikimaru Kirika: Medusa

Saito Kagami: Valkyrie

Sasaki Hanayo: Dryad

Ueda Miyuki: Yuki-onna

Yoshida Etsuko: Poltergeist

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symphonic-scream · 5 years

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Difficult Times

Hibiki had been in Lit Class when the alarms sounded. His Mama had just instructed 1-A to pull out their reading homework from the night before when the lights cut out and the alarms rang out. The red emergency lights flashed, bathing the class in red light. They’d had three drills so far this year, so they all knew what to do. But it was the panicked look on Yaoyorozu Momo’s face that made Hibiki’s nerves surface. The class flooded for the door, but he hung back to look up at his Mama. “Is this a drill?” She shook her head, lightly pushing him out the door. “No, it’s not a drill, ‘Biki. Please, go to your dorm, follow procedure. Please.” The stress she put on her pleads made Hibiki want to cry, so he quickly embraced her before running after his class. Sero Chiaki was at the back with Hagakure Hiroki, who looked like he was hyperventilating. Ojirou Kazuya was glaring at anyone who looked back at him, while the class reps guiding the along the designated route. Once they were all inside the door to Alliance Heights, Hibiki flipped the lock, and joined his classmates in the living room. Someone had already drawn the curtains, leaving them in almost complete darkness, the only light coming from Himura Miyoko’s eyes. Hiroki was whimpering, clutching his head and curled into Chiaki’s side. “Is everyone here?” Akiyama Keiko whispered, leaning about to try to count everyone. “Hoshiko? You here?” “Yes.” A quiet voice came from beside the couch. Hoshiko was hidden under Yoshida Fumiko’s arm, seeming surprisingly small despite being taller than the girl beside her. “I don’t remember another drill being on Pa’s schedule.” Bakushima Tadashi murmured, turning his red eyes to Hibiki. “Did your Mama mention anything? I saw that you left last.” “Well, I, uh.” Hibiki stuttered, trying to decide whether to tell them or not. “It wasn’t on her schedule, but it could be a special drill. I’ve heard of them running drills without telling the staff first before.” A click came from their door, and everyone turned to watch as it quickly opened, before shutting behind whoever had entered. Minata Yui, one of Awase Masuyo’s friends, waved, as she flipped on the lights. “Class 1-A, yeah?” “Who are you?” Keiko practically barked, standing defensively in front of the class. Yui held up her hands, smiling sheepishly. “Minata Yui, Class 3-F. I’m supposed to be supervising you guys.” “Then why did you turn on the lights?” Ishikawa Rai asked, squinting his cat-like eyes. It was against school policy to have any lights on during an emergency drill. “Look, this isn’t a drill, and due to special circumstances, you’re basically on house arrest, not emergency shut down.” “It’s not a drill?” Fujioka Katsumi squeaked, ducking behind Kita Tomoko. Yui sighed, taking a seat in one of the lounge chairs still set up from last night’s movie marathon. “Please, sit on a couch or something, and I’ll explain.”

So, things went from bad to so much worse. A terrorist group that had started in America had shown up in Musutafu today, attacking the city with all their might. All heroes, even those off call or teaching, were called in, along with the third year hero students. So, not only were both Hibiki’s moms out fighting dangerous terrorists, but his older brother was there too. If things went really bad, he’d have no family left. Hiroki was sobbing, clutching Chiaki, who was crying silently. Kazuya was sitting completely stunned on Hibiki’s right while Tadashi, on his left, stared down at his own hands. Tomoko was biting her lip, but was still comforting Katsumi. Tokoyami Hoshiko was hiding her face in Fumiko’s shoulder, and Hibiki, well, he wasn’t taking it too well either. He couldn’t get the image of himself sitting in Principle Aizawa’s office, his Uncle Tomohiro and his wife sitting beside him, as the news that he was orphaned and brother-less was repeated to him, over, and over, and over- He felt a warm hand enclose around his own, and raised his eyes to look at Tadashi. The black haired boy didn’t smile, but squeezed his hand, as if offering Hibiki support. Hibiki squeezed back, leaning into his best friend. Yui said it would be a long night; that when things were finally over, if any of their family were involved they’d be called down to be shuttled out to see them. Someone had turned on the TV, but had left it on the news. They were covering the attack, showing blurry shots of hundreds of heroes and students alike using their full power to keep the destruction where it was. Once in a while a green flash or explosion would go off, and once he swore he heard a blast of a Nickel Back song. Watching the footage was somehow both worse and better than not, until they watching one of the towering buildings begin to collapse. Yao-Managing Co.’s headquarters was falling fast, and Hibiki’s heart stopped. He knew deep down that everyone, including his Uncle Reiji and grandpa-Yorozu, had been evacuated hours ago, but he couldn’t help it. It hovered above on the spot for a spell, before slowly dropping to the ground safely. “Uravity.” He heard someone mutter in relief, before suddenly the footage was cut off. The class began to shout, before it cut back in. Half of the district was gone, leaving a large crater where downtown once stood. It was all too much for Hibiki, who ran towards one of the back rooms. He closed the door to the game room, hugging himself and panting, trying desperately to get the image of his family lying lifeless in that crater out of his head. Tadashi was by his side in a moment, tugging him close. His body ran warm, immediately chasing away the cold, chilling feeling that had settled in Hibiki’s stomach. “Hey.” He whispered, swaying slightly to a silent tune. “Are you alright?” “I don’t think so.” He mumbled, gripping his waist like a lifeline. “I just - why did Toshi have to go?” Tadashi hummed, dropping them both onto the largest beanbag. “I don’t know, Hibiki, but I do know he has Ryoko, and Daichi, and all our parents with him. They’re strong, and they took down the League.” Not once did Tadashi say things were going to be okay, and Hibiki suspected he understood that no one could guarantee that everyone would return in one piece. But he was right, after all. Toshiro was tough, as were Ryoko, Daichi, and the other teens he knew on the site. And the Pro Heroes, they had faced something similar and gotten out alive. “Thanks, Tadashi.” Hibiki whispered, cuddling closer to the warmer teen. He knew neither would be able to actually doze off, but sharing warmth away from the scenes of carnage on the screen was as close as they’d get. “Any time.”

It was maybe four hours later when Hadou Etsuko showed up to take them to the shuttle. She’d been in the school that day talking with Support Classes about career options,and as the oldest taking the shuttle, she was in charge. It wasn’t like anyone was going to misbehave. As they stopped by the middle and primary schools to pick up the others, the mood stayed dismal. When the youngest of Tadashi’s siblings, Takeo, had run onto the shuttle calling for his brother, Hibiki felt his heart sink. What would happen to Takeo if his dads were gone? He was only ten, after all. And losing his sister, the person he was closest to in this world? That would devastate him. When the shuttle pulled into the city’s main hospital, Hibiki froze. He knew that it would ruin him to find out his parents hadn’t made it, that Toshi was gone. Or, for that matter, any of his Aunts or Uncles. He couldn’t imagine Christmas without Denki dressing himself up like a tree. He couldn’t imagine Heroics class without Eijirou. He couldn’t imagine a world where Tenya didn’t patrol the halls, shouting at wandering students. A tug on his arm from Tadashi, and he was walking into the hospital, his family all around him. In the waiting room, Hibiki saw many of his brother’s classmates and his parent’s colleagues. He watched as Hiroki was being cradled by Tooru and Mina. How Hatsuko and Sachiko practically jumped Izuku, before doing the same to Shouto. How Sakurako was met by Tamaki, who hugged his daughter like the world was ending. Some didn’t seem to even find family members, like Kazuya, who was immediately led away by a nurse. It was crazy, like a zoo in the waiting room. And his vision tunneled when he saw his Mom. Hibiki practically rammed into her, tears falling down his cheeks. She grunted, but returned his tight embrace. He sobbed into her jacket as she rubbed his back, soothing him. “Hey, little man, I’m safe, I’m here. I’m okay.” “I love you so much, Mom.” He sniffled, squeezing her tighter for just a moment before releasing her, but not her hand. He needed the contact right now. “I love you too, Hibiki.” “Where’s Mama?” He remembered suddenly. “And Toshi? Mom? Where are they?” His Mom quickly grabbed his shoulders, halting his panicked word vomit. “They’re alive, buddy. Toshiro broke and arm and leg, and your Mama got a little scratched up. We can go see both of them right now, if you’d like?” Mother and son walked hand in hand down the white halls of the hospital, and Hibiki tried to tune out the pained wails of devastated families around him. Soon enough, they turned into a room, and the Yaoyorozu-Jirou family was reunited once more. Toshiro was sitting in a wheelchair, right arm and leg in thick, white casts, face covered in soot, a complex expression on his face. Their Mama was lying in the bed, cloak torn and hanging over a nearby chair. Her hair was down, and she was also covered in dirt and dust. And, the cherry on top, her stomach was covered in thick white bandages. “Hibiki!” She sighed in relief, reaching out for her youngest son. He darted forward, carefully falling into her embrace, watching for her wounds. “My sweet boy, I’m sorry if we worried you. I love you so much.” “I love you too, Mama.” He assured, once again feeling tears fall down his cheeks. “I love you guys so much.” He heard a squeak, and suddenly Hibiki was sitting on his brother’s lap, his uninjured arm holding him close. “Come here, ‘Biki, show your brother some love.” He threw his arms around him, just now noticing his costume was missing the large, thick jacket he used as protection. “Where’s your jacket, Toshi?” His smile faded, his grip tightening. “Ryoko.” This was worrying. Was she okay? She was practically Hibiki’s older sister with the amount of time she spent at their place, and it wouldn’t be right for her to be gone.” “Do you want to see her again, Toshi?” A gruff voice came from the door, and Hibiki turned to see his Uncle Katsuki, arms stained black, his costume torn up, his eyebrows completely singed off. Both his hands were heavily bandaged, and the tips of his hair looked burnt. Hibiki felt Toshiro nod, and held on as their Mom wheeled the two down the hall. Ryoko’s room was a place with a depressing aura. Eijirou was passed out on a small couch, body covered in scratches. Takeo was knocked out in his arms, leaving Tadashi as the only conscious one in the room. He was pulled right up to the bed, where Ryoko lay, connected to a slew of machines. Her hair was down, looking more like black than ashy blonde. Her lips were red and chapped, face looking a little raw. Her head was all wrapped up, and her left wrist was in a cast. She was wearing Toshi’s jacket, and her costume’s accessories were scattered over the furniture. Tadashi looked up as they entered, and Hibiki has never seen him look so lost. Katsuki left them to go embrace his son, literally pulling him out of his chair to get both of them comfortable. Hibiki got off of Toshiro, and watched as his brother wheeled right up next to father and son, placing his left hand on his best friend’s leg. There was some shouting from the hall, before a distraught Uraraka Machiko burst into the room, eyes wild until they landed on her girlfriend. “No.” She muttered, stumbling towards the bed. She looked like she had been crying already, but fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. She stopped at the bedside, collapsing in the chair opposite the girl’s family. “What, what happened?” Toshiro shook a little, not looking up to meet his friend’s eyes. “We, me, her, Tarou and Ayumu, were fighting this one guy, and, the big explosion went off, and, it was really dark for a minute, and when I opened my eyes, she was on the ground, and they said she hit her head pretty hard, and I’m so sorry.” He broke down, his head falling forward as he sobbed. Tadashi leaned over, resting one of his warm hands against his back. “You did all you could, kid.” A new voice came. Tsuyu walked over to her oldest, her younger daughter asleep on her back. “No one saw that coming. We’re just lucky no one died today.” She was in hospital scrubs, her face and hands clean. Under her nails was a different story. They were dark red, still stained with blood. She let Taura off her back, laying the girl over the last couch before placing her hands on her daughter’s shoulders. “She’ll wake up soon, too.” Tadashi muttered, watching the machines keeping his sister stable. “There’s only a small chance of amnesia, too. Some could say you’re worse for wear.” Toshi didn’t lift his head, but his sobs died off. Hibiki felt bad for his brother. He probably saw his best friend lying on the ground, believing she was dead. It was probably going to bother him forever. Hibiki remembered his Mama telling them traumatic memories tended to be the strongest. “Is Ocha in surgery now?” Katsuki asked, looking at Tsuyu. She nodded, squeezing her daughter’s shoulders. “Yes, ribbit. They wheeled her in after the girls got a chance to see her.” Machiko was still crying, and she sniffled as she squeezed her eyes shut. “She was so pale.” She spoke, barely audible. “And she’ll live?” Katsuki inquired, shifting his son in his arms. “Yes, but there’s a 60% chance of paralysis.” Hibiki couldn’t help but feel awful for Machiko. She was probably having the worst day of her life. Her girlfriend is comatose, with a chance of waking up with no memory of her, and her mother might lose the use of her legs. Over the next few hours, tons of people came in to see Ryoko. Hadou Ayumu and Toogata Tarou, on their way back from seeing Tarou’s brother Yuudai. Iida Daichi, accompanied Kimiko, Hayate, Masuya and Misaki, their father, Tenya, leaving with a sad look. Even Shouto, who placed a singular daisy on the bedside table before leaving. It was quiet for a bit, safe for the faint noises of the machines hooked up to Ryoko. Hibiki almost thought everyone dozed off, but he knew better. The only way anyone was sleeping was going to be brought on by pure exhaustion. Soon, his Mom returned, taking him and Toshiro back to their Mama’s room for the night.

A week later, and things are only just looking up. Repairs to the city have started, led mainly by the Yaoyorozu’s company and funds, with large donations from many foreign aid programs. Many international support companies came to help build the city back up again, while heroes from other countries came to watch over the population while those involved in the fight healed. Ryoko had woken up two days after the attack, memories just a little fuzzy at first. She was going to be released tomorrow, alongside Ochako, who’s surgery had been a success, and was participating in physical therapy until further notice. Since most housing was destroyed, UA was closed for the month to house victims while temporary shelters and new homes were being built. Casualties were low, with only seven civilian deaths, and one of Deku’s sidekicks dying of his injuries just yesterday. With nothing better to do, Grandpa-Yorozu had offered to house every member of their UA family until the city got back on it’s feet, even going as far as to offer financial help to the Monomas and Awases, as their buildings were among those destroyed. While things were never going to be the same for the group, it was nice to have them all so close. Having everyone under the same roof was comforting, even if Hibiki was sharing Toshiro’s room with all the other children. The bed had been moved to Hibiki’s room, and mats, bedrolls, and sleeping bags were spread across the floor. Hibiki’s room was housing those like Ochako, who had received more severe injuries. Of the children, only Toogata Yuudai was in that room, as he’d been impaled through the abdomen by a stray beam. In Toshiro’s room, Hibiki could watch everyone. Kendou Moriko, who was sandwiched between her brother, Yuuto, and sister, Reina, both arms in casts. Even Tetsutetsu Isamu, who had Takeo and Monoma Yoshirou on his chest, Awase Kazuharu curled into his side. Machiko had barely left Ryoko's side since she woke up, even during sleep. Tadashi rolled over, elbowing Hibiki in the face. It was rather cramped having this many kids in one room, but it made it feel safer. Even if only six of them (excluding Yuudai) had been in the fight, it was a huge relief to have them close now. This was the life of Pro Heroes, Hibiki realized, pushing Tadashi’s arms away before curling into his best friend further. There were always going to be more battles to fight, and more aftermath to struggle through. They were lucky, having everyone come out alive. Next time, they might not be so lucky. The next morning, Hibiki sits with his Mama as they watch their UA family feast on the large breakfast that had been cooked up that morning. “Mama?” Hibiki asked, turning to look at her. She hummed, turning to face him as well. “Yes, Munchkin?” “Is it worth it?” She seemed to ponder it for a minute, watching Hadou Hideaki and Monoma Takara squabble over a bowl of potatoes. “It is worth it. Because without people fighting the good fight, mornings like these don’t exist. We fight so others don’t have to, Hibiki. That’s what heroes do.” He nodded. Yes, that’s what heroes did. It didn’t matter, in the long run, that Hitoshi had been slashed up, or that Izuku was almost crushed by a building. What mattered was that the group had been stopped, and the citizens could eventually return to their regular lives.

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amissaeepistulae · 5 years

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Catharsis

I have seen many things in this life. Heard many laughs, heard many sobs. Watched a spark grow into a flame, and just as quickly be snuffed out. I have seen the tides that guide the steps of humanity engulf some in a violent torrent and let others float on its smooth waters. Some say I am an expert at reading people; I just know how to tell the signs laid out for me in the depths of the icy blues and warm browns that stare back at me. Wisdom, they say. Observance, I respond. But one thing has always eluded me. One aspect of humans I’ve never been able to grasp. One feature of the thousands of faces of humanity that my mind can never cling to. It’s funny- it seems so essential to people. They stretch their minds outward to understand it, but never fully comprehend it. Like gravity, they live blissfully unaware of its true vastness and meaning, yet depend on it for their very survival. Maybe the lack of intuitive understanding of this fundamental idea disqualifies me from being human. Maybe that’s what drove me to discard my life and pick up a pen. Maybe that’s why no matter how hard I try to look away from the blinding truth, I always somehow come back to it. All my life, I have been bereft of the ability to love. Others can, I cannot. Every time I think I have gotten closer to this locked chest, I look again and there it sits on the horizon, as it always seems to remain. I have never tried to think of it as a handicap, but rather one less distraction I must dodge. And yet, it is the shadow that clings to my feet- an answer that lies so close, but when I turn to face it, it is swept away in the breeze. The world will not give me the explanations I seek, so I have resolved to search within myself instead, deep into the recesses of my memory. I have kept a list- it has happened three times. Three distinct times I remember being utterly perplexed by human behavior. Three times I felt my mind reel to fathom the depth of waters I could not swim, three times I felt my heart, distant and reserved, yearn for something it thought to be far greater than it. And so now as I wield my pen and relive those moments, I hope that in them lies the clarity that will bring my silent mission to an end.

April 16th, 1992

Age 14

These days, I felt that whenever I spoke to him, I should always whisper. I never did that because I felt he would break if I poured more emotion into his battered heart- I always had faith in him. I always believed he was stronger than that. His calming smile amidst the trials of existence, his steady tone piercing through clouds of doubt- they were him. They made him my brother, Kenzou, and I knew he would never let anything take that away from him. No, I always felt the need to whisper in respect for the of the aura of silence that surrounded him. It was like walking through a graveyard on a crisp winter morning. The vastness, the boldness of the stone, the hush of the breeze, almost as if it too bowed to the utter silence of the place. In it, there is nothing, yet there is everything. Thousands of other lives, millions of dreams and souls, put to rest under the soft earth. I felt he was like that. Rumors of his wild escapades far in the west echoed in the faintest voices down every hallway. When he came home a year after he left, something had shifted. Too many arms around his shoulders. Too many eyes, not daring to meet his. Too many half apologies, half smiles, half truths. Did you hear? their eyes whispered. What a story! What a scandal! What a tragedy! A man? His lover? In a car crash? How devastating, how horrible, how forgettable. I had never known more than that; I had never needed to. The rest was told to me in the way his eyes twinkled, on such rare, sweet occasion. In the way laughter rushed from his lungs, as if it was the last cries of a dying soul. He kept him in him. He kept him alive inside him. He lived, an Atlas carrying the burdens of another upon his shoulders. Why? I had never been able to grasp why, until one day, when I saw the photos. He was doing as he did always now- staying his room, trying to grab back something lost, trying to relive it all, as if it would bring him the release he craved. But on this day, he kneeled on the ground and stared at photographs. They were neither glamorous nor particularly emotional. So ordinary. So plain. They were of him, a boy of 19, glimmering with youth, and a blonde boy. The boy and Kenzou smiled, easy laughter putting grins on their faces. They seemed so... normal, to me. Yet another “unforgettable” memory, preserved by nothing but a flimsy photo. But then I saw him. Truly saw him, for the first time. The vibrancy that surged up through him, the way it seized him, made him sit up straight, the way it made his body quiver with strength and conviction and purpose, the way his eyes burned- that I will never forget. I can never forget. The ghost of my brother had been replaced by a blazing soul. The empty husk of a man was filled. But it only lasted a moment. In a breath, he was whisked away. But something in those pictures, something in the electric blue in his partner’s eyes made him look awake again. Alive again. And that is when I truly met, for the first time, the man known as Kenzou Yoshida.

December 5th, 1996

Age 18

As I walked, I watched my breath flow from my dry lips and dissipate against the night sky. All that could be heard was the sound of my feet hitting the icy pavement and the occasional woosh of trees’ branches ’ branches collapsing from the overwhelming weight of the white powder that piled on them. Not even the creatures of the night stirred in this frigid landscape, their homes reshaped in Winter’s image. I was an island in this expanse of white, a lone soul drifting through a lifeless plane. I almost appreciated the isolation, responsible for nothing but existing, but the ceaseless shivers that wracked my body were almost unbearable. Not a taxi in sight, and my house, oh, such a warm house, was a couple miles away in Shinjuku. I tried to ignore the numbness seeping into my fingers and continued to walk. I looked up at the horizon, black on white, and saw a figure, wearing nothing but a light jacket. Was it coming towards me? Driven by curiosity, I willed my legs to move faster. When I got closer, a voice, deep and clear, cut through the silence.

“Etsuko!”

He was waving now, sloshing through the snow. When we finally reached each other, the gears clicked, and I recognized him. It was Kouki Ikedo, a boy I’d given nothing but a few pardon-mes over the many years we’d gone to school together. He was a plain looking boy, with no unique or remarkable features other than his placid, ever-present smile. He gave me this smile now, as he tried to regain a steady breath.

“What are you doing out here?”

“Walking home, because all the taximen took the night off.”

“I don’t have a car, but my apartment isn’t too far from here. You can stay the night, if you’d like,” Kouki offered, holding his jacket tighter around himself.

Grateful for the chance to get warm, I agreed and walked with him.

“How did you know I was outside?” I asked as he fumbled with the keys to the door.

“I could see you from my window. Here, come in-” he ushered me inside before shutting the door. “You looked cold, so…”

I tried to conceal the surprise on my face as I looked around. I had always known Kouki wasn’t rich, but… I hadn’t realized the extent of his poverty. I guess it explained his coat. His apartment consisted of a small living room and an even smaller bedroom, a refrigerator barely fitting in its corner. Olive green wallpaper peeled off of the walls. A ratty couch sat in front of a tiny television set, a relic that had to be at least thirty years old.

“Please, sit down,” Kouki said, pulling a small heater towards me. “Let me find you a blanket too.”

He fished through a tiny closet and pulled out two blankets, one thick and velvety, the other thin and ragged. He draped the thin one around his shoulders and offered the other to me.

“I have the heater, you should take the warmer blanket,” I said to him.

“I’m ok, really. You were the one out in the snow! Just take it.”

I took the blanket as he settled on the floor.

“I appreciate your kindness,” I said, looking at the snow swirl outside.

He laughed. “Anything for you, Etsuko.” Had I not been looking out the window, I might have noticed the faintest blush dance across his cheeks. I might have noticed the way his hands fidgeted with the ratty ends of his blanket, fingers weaving themselves among torn threads.

But I did not.

I could sense his urge to keep speaking, so I engaged him in in small talk. I don’t remember what about; it seemed trivial to me at the time. I did it out of politeness, as if my short replies about recent school projects equated to the kindness he had shown me. The eagerness he displayed at talking about such things confused me, but I shrugged it off, too tired to pay a great deal of attention to anything but inane details, such as the corners of the window blurring with frost. I had unconsciously started to doze off when Kouki gently shook my shoulder, rousing me from my drowsy state.

“Sorry I kept you up so late. You can sleep in my bedroom tonight, I’ll take the couch. Just let me clean it up a bit for you.”

My mind was a captive of Sleep, reality and dream blurring together. I was too tired to grasp what was going on, but I assume Kouki must have come back and helped guide me to his room. All I can remember was the flick of hazy orange to pitch black, the warmth of the velvety blanket seeping into my bones, and the whisper of a few tentative words before shutting the door.

Oh, envoy of Love, what I would give to hear those words again.

When I woke up in the morning, Kouki was still asleep, legs crunched awkwardly on the couch. I did not wake him. Instead, I walked over to his rickety old table, and read a note left for me.

Take this money for your taxi fee, they should be running in the morning. Don’t pay me back. Take some breakfast too, if you’re hungry. I liked talking last night with you.

I left the note and picked up the six hundred yen. Kouki was beginning to stir. Without a word to him, I walked out of his apartment and shut the door.

August 24th, 2001

Age 23

I walked in the door and found him sitting on our couch.

“Masato! I didn’t realize you’d be back today, how was America-”

“Do you love me?”

The words hit me. I froze. My mind was molasses, too slow to understand his question.

Do you love me?

I had met him a year prior. We started the second term not even knowing each other’s names, and ended it living together. Masato Daisuke, an outspoken intellectual with a passion for anything and everything. This fiery man with words that flowed like sweet honey from his tongue intrigued me. I suppose we were drawn together as two magnets are- my apathy a match for his enthusiasm. I studied the world, he changed it. On a cool October night, sitting together by the fire, he asked me to be his, and I agreed. I liked the feeling of his large arms wrapped around me. I liked listening to his ideas, plucked out of his fantastical mind. He was one of the few people who truly interested me. I have always found the hidden enigma of the qualities of humanity fascinating, yes, but so few people display them openly. Rather, they hide these qualities with blank masks, devoid of interest. He gave me a whirlpool of colors and thoughts and emotions to study. If I were anyone else, I would say he excited me. We spent the days studying and the nights hopping around Tokyo, every detail enhanced by his stories. We were on a constant adventure, never separated for a moment. That is, until the day he told me he was going to America to study abroad. He promised he’d be back, told me how terribly sad he’d be without me, and boarded the plane the next morning. Before he left, he only asked one thing of me.

“Etsuko, please write. I will try to save up money to call you, calls are so expensive these days. If only I could bring you with me, I would. So many places we’d visit together! I could take you to the heart of New York and we could explore the streets, just as we do here. But the streets in America are bigger, you know. And what strange food they eat! It tastes wonderful, though. Oh, Etsuko, will I miss you. Someday, when we’re out of school, I’ll bring you with me. But for now, write, and send me pictures of your dazzling face, so I don’t forget it, though I don’t see how I could.”

A week after he left, the memory of him still remained, but not the desire to write. I still cared for him, I just felt I had nothing to say. And thus, I spent the rest of the year without him with this attitude. What a splendid time we had together, I continued to think, but I have things I must attend to here, and I’m sure he has matters of his own.

And once again, my apathy was my downfall.

And when I found him, a familiar stranger, sitting in our apartment, asking the one question forever haunting me, I found myself unable to think.

Masato looked up from his lap and caught my gaze. His dark eyes, usually ablaze with passion, were empty and tired. It struck me that I’d seen those eyes before, on my brother Kenzou, all those years ago. I realized, it was because he, too, had lost his direction. He too had lost something so vital. Masato, too, knew that the thing he valued most had been taken away from him.

And I was to blame.

All the years of pushing down my emotions had caught up with me. All the times I had wanted to smile, wanted to laugh, wanted to scream, wanted to cry- they had taken a toll on me. I hadn’t even noticed. How had I not noticed? The geyser, capped by what was thought to be solid earth, was about to burst due to this man, this forgotten lover, this symbol of my ghost. My ghost, so visible to all but I. My heart tore from its bonds. Why was I born like this? Born with this burden, this cross, this curse-

A single tear fell down my cheek.

My lip quivered.

Do you love me? Do you love me? Do you love me?

Can you love?

“No.”

I didn’t even pause long enough to see his face.

I turned away from him and walked out the door, out of the apartment, out of our life.

I turned away from the one mistake I could never fix and never looked back.

But if I could change one thing in my life, this long life of grays and silence, it would be to go back. If I went back, would it change anything? Would it give me insight? Would it mend the damage I’ve done on countless people’s hearts? Would it give understanding of my brother, or a thank-you to Kouki, or a letter to Masato? Would it pave the path and allow me to live the life I never could live?

I am forty now. I am nowhere close to death, but my life has already been lived. My path has already been chosen. I have lived tied down by countless illusions. Illusions of ultimate wisdom, illusions of satisfaction, illusions of contentment found within the void of indifference. I have been so mistaken, so blind for all of my years. The only clarity that has come to me is how unclear humanity’s true agenda is. How people plunge into the vast oceans of the indefinite concept they’ve deemed “love” and never rise again to the surface. Does this wondering bring me closer to the place where land meets sea? Does this struggle bring me closer to humanity? Is love the constant seeking out of what we are told is “love”? I don’t know. I will never know.

And so I begin again, seeking catharsis, lost once more in the infinite maze of thought.

#writing #japan #philosophy #writing post

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squaredcirclesirens · 7 years

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Mariko Yoshida to retire

Mariko Yoshida has once again elected to take an absence from professional wrestling, except this time she’s retiring. Yoshida’s short-lived comeback to the sport happened at last year’s tenth-anniversary celebration for a former trainee, Hiroyo Matsumoto. Trained at the hands of the legendary Jaguar Yokota back in the late 1980’s, like Yokota, Yoshida is responsible for molding the next generation of Joshi with her expertise. Misaki Ohata, multi-champion Matsumoto, Faby Apache, former SHIMMER Champion Cheerleader Melissa and even current retirees, Tomoka Nakagawa, Ayumi Kurihara, Shuu Shibutani were all raised under Yoshida’s tutelage. However, those few names are not even the tip of the iceberg when it comes to who all were trained by Yoshida in the last twenty-years. Mariko also innovated a move that is seen today, the Air Raid Crash and was one of the many hands involved in the launch of Aja Kong’s ARSION back in 1997.

As the head trainer alongside Sakie Hasegawa acting as the manager and as president, Rossy Ogawa, the current president of STARDOM, ARSION’s debut event, “Virgin” took place in front of a sold-out crowd in Tokyo on February 18, 1998, and footage from the show can usually be found via YouTube. The promotion eventually folded in 2003 after the departure of Kong two years earlier due to conflicts with Ogawa. Kong walked out on the promotion during a tag team match with Mariko against Etsuko Mita and Mima Shimoda at Korakuen Hall and declared that she was “quitting.” During that time, Lioness Asuka was brought in as the new booker and eventually pushed herself into the major storylines along with other veterans, leading to a young Ayako Hamada leaving the promotion after being pushed down the card and jumping to Gaea with Kong.

Despite all the backstage politics, ARSION’s been lauded after over the last decade and change since it’s closure for it’s Lucha Libre and shoot wrestling infused style, which was patterned after Yoshida herself, whom had repackaged her skills by adopting more submission mat-based wrestling and even incorporated mixed-martial arts to be even more of a technical performer. Yoshida dropped her high-flying style that made her a three-time AJW Tag Team Champion and one-time AJW titleholder and even switched out her old ring attire for her infamous spider webbed design. Yoshida was crowned the inaugural Queen of ARSION Champion that same year the promotion had launched in December and is also the final titleholder, winning the championship via an eight-woman elimination tag team match in August of 2003. Yoshida’s second reign as champion was ended two months after winning the then-vacant title over Rie Tamada in a seven-way elimination match in June of 2003 by Mima Shimoda, who won it on ARSION’s final show. Yoshida won the belt back two months later and officially retired it the same day and went onto launch, “IBUKI” a new promotion aimed at fostering young, up and comers just two years later.

Hiroyo, Misaki, Tomoka, and Kurihara would turn out to be Ibuki’s / S-Ovation’s (production company) most recognizable and biggest stars to date. All four women would go on to debut for SHIMMER in 2010, leading the way for future Joshi contingent and winning the promotion’s tag team titles down the line. Yoshida continued to wrestle during this time and began making appearances for DIANA before taking a three-year hiatus in 2013. She teamed up with Kyoko Kimura and Cherry for her in-ring return and fought Ohata, Aoi Kizuki and DASH Chisako to a twenty-minute time-limit draw at last year’s produce for Matsumoto and managed to squeeze in one appearance for DIANA that October before reappearing at a Korakuen Hall show earlier this year, where she unsuccessfully challenged Jaguar Yokota and Manami Toyota in a number contendership three-way for the DIANA World Title. Yoshida made her announcement at a recent show in Tokyo and stated that her final match is scheduled for November 20th at Shinjuku FACE. In the meantime, she continues to wrestle for DIANA until her career winds down.

Photos of Mariko Yoshida are courtesy of Super Luchas via Battle-News Data collected from, but not limited to: Cagematch, DDS Interview

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#DIANA #Joshi #Mariko Yoshida #News

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