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the-redhead-who-writes · 4 years

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The Nutcracker Prince and the Devil Mouse

A re-telling of the classic ballet has Mika Anderson receiving a set of exquisite soldiers and a handcrafted Nutcracker for Christmas from her Grandfather Drosselmeyer. But with her joy comes uncertainty when an unexpected announcement from her Father and the sudden appearance of a frightful villain threatens to shatter everything she knows. Amidst the darkness, Mika will find love and an inner strength she'd never before known. Along with the magic of Christmas and the help of her friends, both old and new, will it be enough to save the holidays and her future?

Happy Holidays dorks! This story has been in the works for nearly a year now when I woke up in a cold sweat one night in the middle of last January and thought: "What if Harold Anderson was more like Uncle Drosselmeyer from the Nutcracker?"

So, I present to you a fanfiction to spread a little festive cheer to both veteran and new Seduce Me fans alike. The plan is to have the whole story up before February, but you know me and my time management skills; I promise to do my best though!

This fanfic is also specially dedicated to my best friend and beta @the-sassy-sister. Thank you for being with me through thick and thin!

And now, without further ado, please enjoy my take on a holiday classic!

Links: AO3

Mika imagined that most girls her age would be excited about their family’s annual Christmas party. Her Mother certainly was; she’d been running around for days arranging the necessary preparations: polishing the silverware, scrubbing the floors. Ensuring everything would be just perfect.

Mika struggled to see the point.

Not that she considered herself a Scrooge by any means. She really did love the holidays and everything that came with them: the house smelling of delicious food being prepared; the beautiful decorations that glittered over every inch of the house; and, of course, the time spent with friends and loved ones.

But when the ‘friends and loved ones’ were powerful execs and stuffy, influential board members, it was hard to feel merry.

The party was dragging by at a snail’s pace, and Mika’s cheeks ached from the smile she’d kept plastered on her face for the last three hours. She supposed she should be used to it by now; her father held the same lavish affair every year. And every year, she was expected to stand around, look pretty and repeat the usual lines.

Thank you for coming. We’re so glad to have you here. Why yes, I am doing well in my studies. Please, try the fruitcake.

She sighed, rolling her neck to ease the tense muscles in her shoulders. Her position as a greeter at the front door had long since finished, as the party was well underway and all of the A-list guests had arrived. But Mika wasn’t waiting on any of them.

Anticipation had her fingers drumming on the staircase railing, keeping in time with the ticking antique grandfather clock in the adjacent living room. Slipping away during speeches would probably earn her a lecture from her Father at the end of the night, but right now, she couldn’t bring herself to care.

“Any sign of him?”

Mika turned her head from the door to see Naomi exiting the kitchen, holding a glass of punch. Suzu followed after her, grinning toothily behind her plate of precariously stacked baked goods.

Mika smiled wearily, accepting the drink from Naomi. “No, not yet. He should be here soon, though.”

The soft-spoken girl nodded, while Suzu snorted, moving to sit next to Mika on the bottom step. “Your Granddad sure does like to make an entrance.”

Mika followed suit, sitting down with a chuckle.

Harold Anderson, the eccentric toymaker and famed CEO of Anderson Toys.

He’d amassed quite the legacy over the years; travelling to every corner of the globe and creating the most exquisite toys the world had ever seen. His products were a household name around birthdays and Christmas, and he was regarded as one of the highest-ranking businessmen in North America.

Multi-national corporation aside, he was also known for his kind heart and regular charity donations; he had more than a handful of schools and playgrounds named after him. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that thousands of lives had been changed thanks to his generosity.

But to Mika, he was simply Grandfather Drosselmeyer.

She couldn’t recall where the moniker had come from, most likely stemming from his many travels - travels which he would spin for her in hundreds of elaborate stories. As a child, she’d sit and listen to him for hours as he described the magic behind his latest adventure while he tinkered on one of his brilliant contraptions. And when she discovered her love of ballet, he’d bought Mika her first pair of dancing slippers and never missed a concert.

Nowadays, she was just grateful to hear from him.

Her Father wasn’t shy about his distaste for the unconventional methods in which the patriarch of Anderson Toys ran his company, along with his “childish” views on business. So as the years went by, Mika saw less and less of her Grandfather. He still held the reins on the company, of course, but chose to handle most of his work abroad to appease his son. That left Mika relying on word of mouth or social media to keep track of him.

The exceptions were the holidays, where he would arrive with exquisite gifts and handmade toys for his employees. How she treasured those moments: they made her Father’s parties bearable.

“Whaddya think he’ll have this time?” Suzu asked, words muffled by the cookie she’d stuffed in her mouth.

Mika shrugged, gaze back on the door as she took a sip of her punch. “Who knows? He’s been really quiet this year. Last I heard he was visiting Moscow.”

Naomi excitedly clapped her hands together, cooing. “Ooh, maybe he’ll bring you a set of cute little Russian nesting dolls!”

Suzu rolled her eyes. “Those things are creepy as hell, Naomi. What about one of the model airplanes he said he was working on-?” She paused, taking a massive bite of a brownie. “Nah tha wud be cul.”

Naomi made a sound of disgust as Suzu smirked, teeth smeared with chocolate, and Mika grinned behind her glass.

“Mika!”

The sharp, cold voice had the young woman in question nearly choking on her drink. She lurched to her feet, turning around to see her Father straightening his already pristine tie as he approached from down the hall.

“Yes, Father?” she quickly replied, placing her cup down on the step and folding her hands timidly.

“You’re needed in the dining room,” the man said curtly, eyeing her friends. Naomi twisted a piece of her hair, looking at the floor; Suzu hastily swallowed her mouthful of brownie.

Mika blanched. “R-right now?” she stammered, “But, I-I’m waiting for-”

“Yes, I’m well aware of what you’re doing,” he sneered, casting a dismissive glance at the door. “But as usual, my Father is late. And this is vitally important. My speech is about to begin.”

Her Father glared down at her, arms folded tightly across his chest. His lips were pulled into a thin, impatient frown, and Mika swallowed, squeezing her hands.

“I understand Father, but could I have just another few minutes? It would be impolite to leave Grandfather Dross-“ Mika backpedalled, watching her Father’s eyes narrow at the nickname. “...To leave Grandfather to let himself in.”

A scoff. “My Father can’t be bothered with etiquette, so why should we pay him the same kindness?”

Hearing the word 'kindness' out of her Father’s mouth was as foreign as “I love you.” Mika’s lips almost twitched.

Almost.

“Now, hurry up. Our guests are waiting.”

His tone left no room for argument, and with the very real threat of an open shouting match in front of her friends hanging in the air, Mika faltered.

Resigned, she nodded complacently. “Yes, Father. Of course,” Mika murmured.

She then turned to Naomi and Suzu, who were watching her with small, sympathetic smiles.

“Let me know when he arrives?”she asked.

Suzu grinned, shooting her a thumbs-up. “You got it, Chika.”

It was at that moment the front doors blew open, sending a gust of winter air spilling into the foyer. The snow that carried in sparkled as it swirled around them, glittering under the chandelier light.

Mika winced against the bite of the cold, shielding her eyes as her hair whipped her face.

“When who arrives, sweetie?”

Mika’s heart lurched at the familiar, jolly voice, and she hurried to blink the spots from her vision as the heavy doors thudded closed.

His cheeks and nose were bitten red with the cold, but warmth shone in the forest green eyes that were a shade darker than her own; their only resemblance.

He reached up to tip his top hat politely. “I’m sorry, my dear. Did I keep you waiting?”

Standing under the light of the winter moon, he beamed at Mika from under the brim with such love that her eyes pricked with tears.

Her Grandfather Drosselmeyer.

Mika’s face split into the first genuine smile of the night. Forgetting all proprieties, she ran to embrace him, burying her face in the heavy, woollen material of his worn travelling cloak.

His arms came up to return the hug, squeezing her tightly and resting his chin on the top of her head.

“Even taller this year, I see,” the old man chuckled, and Mika grinned.

“You’re just shrinking,” she shot back playfully, looking up to see her Grandfather’s eye - the one not concealed under his eyepatch - crinkle with mirth at her usual retort.

He’d never told her what had happened.

Years ago, Harold Anderson returned home from one of his long trips with the right side of his face bandaged painfully tight. He’d soothed Mika’s frantic tears, taking her small form up onto his knee with a mischievous smile.

“Mice,” he’d whispered. “Such tricky little devils.”

With his sharp wit and seemingly boundless energy, her Grandfather Drosselmeyer had the disposition of a man half his age. His laugh lines were what gave him away, etching his face with the echoes of every joke he’d ever told.

Combined with his neatly styled silver hair - which he sported as a proud badge of his years - Harold Anderson gave off the impression of a kindly, dignified artisan rather than a shrewd business mogul.

Unlike her Father, whose glare burned into Mika’s back with unabashed contempt.

Mr. Anderson pointedly cleared his throat, and Mika winced. Her Grandfather didn’t seem the slightest bit perturbed, though. He turned them both to face his son with a broad smile.

“Merry Christmas, my boy! It’s so good to see you.”

The greeting he got in return was clipped.

“Father. Clearly, you believe attending these parties aren’t worth your precious time. Why even bother showing up?”

“Oh, come now, son, you know how I hate small talk. Why drag myself through such stuffy formalities when I can simply arrive at the climax?” Grandfather Drosselmeyer exclaimed cheerfully, unphased by the sour look on his son’s face.

Mika giggled, but the laughter died in her throat at her Father’s glower.

Mr. Anderson hummed, unimpressed. “Honestly, with all the money being thrown away on these ‘research expeditions’, you’re lucky I can keep the company afloat.”

“Ah, is that an invitation to join back in on day-to-day affairs? You know how I’ve missed our little chats. The burnt coffee in the boardroom was just a bonus, after all.”

Her Grandfather’s easygoing attitude only seemed to irritate her Father further.

“You are a figurehead, and nothing more,” he snapped. “Anderson Toys is finally moving towards becoming one of the top grossing corporations on the continent, and if footing the bill for your ridiculous trips keeps you out of the way, then so be it.”

Fury and indignation for her Grandfather boiled like acid in Mika’s stomach, and her hug tightened defensively around him.

Her Grandfather, as she had expected, didn’t rise to the taunt. He simply patted her hand soothingly and continued to smile.

“Even the figurehead still gets to attend his own company’s party, yes?” he inquired politely, and her Father sneered.

“You’d still ask despite turning up late? Clearly your nerve hasn’t softened with age like your mind. Well, seeing as how I was just in the middle of addressing my guests, you can wait here until I’ve-“

“Oh, is that Harold?”

“Harold, you sly dog! We thought you’d never show!”

The voices that floated in expressed surprise and delight as Harold’s arrival reached the dining room. Slowly, guests carried into the lobby, eager to greet their beloved CEO with a flurry of questions.

Drosselmeyer met with each of them, shaking hands left and right jovially before inviting the group to follow him to the main parlour.

“Oh, you don’t mind, do you, David?” Harold chimed, seemingly unaware of the way in which he was stepping on his son’s proverbial toes.

Mika knew better. A twinge of satisfaction curled her lips as her Father’s spotlight was stolen away, leaving the corner of his eye twitching.

“...We’ll get back to the speech’s afterwards,” Mr. Anderson ground out as delicately as possible.

Harold clapped his hands together. “Wonderful! Now, shall we?”

-❄-

Soon, the parlour was packed, and a roaring fire crackled merrily in the brick fireplace. With the room full of laughter, warmth, and happily chattering people, Mika felt like Christmas had finally arrived in the cold estate.

And in the middle of it all was her Grandfather Drosselmeyer.

Sat in a large armchair by the fireplace, he beamed like a modern-day Saint Nick. The overstuffed velvet sack he’d conjured from seemingly thin air sat open on the floor, and with every dip into its endless depths, a new and wonderful creation appeared.

Button-eyed teddy bears with hand-stitched smiles; rollerblades whose wheels gleamed with fresh polish; pop guns that fired corks with a bang.

Even the company’s oldest employees were transported back to their earliest Christmas mornings, eyes sparkling with childlike wonder at the beautiful toys her Grandfather produced.

As the last of the gifts were handed out, Mika and her friends sat around the front of Grandfather Drosselmeyer’s chair.

“You’ve really topped yourself this year, Mr. D!” Suzu exclaimed, fiddling with a stray paddle ball while she lay sprawled across the carpet.

Naomi coughed daintily into her fist, sitting cross-legged. “She means ‘thank you,’ Mr. Anderson.”

Her Grandfather laughed heartily. “You’re most welcome, girls. And I’ve told you to call me Drosselmeyer, Naomi. ‘Mr. Anderson-’,” he said, donning an exaggeratedly droll tone and puffing out his chest, “-is my son.”

Mika giggled, smoothing the glossy curls on the china doll in her lap.

Her Father was busy skulking around the outskirts of the party, so she could allow herself to relax for the time being. It was hard not to when she was with her Grandfather; his presence was like being enveloped in a ray of warm sunshine.

“I’m glad to see you ladies are having fun,” Grandfather continued, “But we aren’t through just yet! There’s still the grand finale!”

Grandfather Drosselmeyer gestured for the three girls to come closer on the carpet, and so they did, crowding nearer as he once again delved into his bag.

“For Suzu,” he began with a twinkle in his eye, “the latest in my line of model airplanes.”

He revealed a beautifully painted metal bi-plane with gold stripes up the wings and matching propellers on the nose and fins. The landing gear even had miniature rubber tires.

Suzu was starry-eyed. “No way! It’s so cool!”

Grandfather Drosselmeyer chuckled, handing it to the eager girl. “I thought you’d like the fastest prototype we had available. I trust you’ll give our engineers a run for their money.”

“Hell yeah! Thanks, Mr. D!” Suzu whooped, jumping to her feet and dipping the plane through the air, watching the propeller blades spin.

Naomi's lips pinched, clearly torn between reprimanding Suzu for her language and letting her enjoy herself.

Her struggle was immediately forgotten, however, when Drosselmeyer announced her gift.

“For Naomi, a hand-painted matryoshka doll that’s travelled with me all the way from Belarus.”

Naomi squealed, the excited noise a stark contrast to her usually reserved nature.

“It’s beautiful, Mr. A- Um, Drosselmeyer!” she corrected quickly, gratefully accepting the wooden figurine.

It was of a woman with ruby lips in a green-patterned apron, her eyes closed demurely. The paint glistened in the firelight, and Naomi traced along the intricate carvings before twisting the top half gently. It popped open with ease to reveal a smaller figurine, this one in a blue dress.

She gave the old man a quick hug before beginning the task of opening each compartmented doll.

Mika smiled at the twin expressions of joy on her friends’ faces.

How her Grandfather always knew just the right gifts to bring was beyond her, but it wasn’t surprising. He’d always had a knack for reading people, and she’d seen him do and create so many extraordinary things.

Mika doubted she’d ever stop being amazed by her Grandfather Drosselmeyer.

A small, fearful part of her heart prayed that she wouldn’t.

Her sudden anxiety calmed when a knuckle curled beneath her chin, tilting her face upwards to meet loving eyes.

“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” Grandfather Drosselmeyer asked softly, and Mika’s throat tightened with a swell of emotion.

It was Christmas, and she was with the people she adored; it was everything Mika could possibly want. To spend such a special night worrying would be a waste.

“Nothing Grandfather. Everything is perfect,” she reassured, shaking off her momentary nerves with a watery smile.

Her Grandfather’s eyes shimmered with a depth far beyond his years as he studied her face carefully.

Mika’s heart turned over in her chest. At that moment, it felt as if he could see right through her practiced facade, knowing every one of the hopes and fears she had long grown accustomed to keeping hidden away.

But then, his smile brightened.

“Well if that’s the case, I don’t suppose you’ll be needing your gift then, hmm?”

Mika’s relieved giggle was dwarfed by her Grandfather’s hearty laughter as he pulled back to once again reach into his bag.

“I must confess that I actually have three presents for you this year, my dear. Is that alright?”

Mika bit her lip and attempted to school her features into a mask of nonchalance.

“Well, if you’ve already brought them, then I guess it's fine.”

Suzu snorted, tucking her plane under her arm and plopping back down next Mika.

Grandfather Drosselmeyer chuckled, waiting for Naomi to close up the last of her dolls so she could watch too.

“Now, for my beloved Granddaughter,” he announced, “this first gift is best suited for someone with your open-mindedness.”

Curious, the girls leaned closer. Grandfather paused for a moment before showing a stuffed animal.

Or at least, what resembled a stuffed animal.

It was white, with a long bushy tail and small feet. It sat on its hind legs, its stubby paws folded in front of it.

But in one of its paws, it had… a knife?!

Combined with its eerie red eyes and a jagged smile, Mika was shocked this design had ever cleared management.

“I know, he’s a little off-putting at first,” Grandfather admitted. “He was meant to be a cooking squirrel, complete with a chef hat. But somewhere along the way, he got a little…”

“Creepy?” Suzu offered, and Grandfather Drosselmeyer shrugged helplessly.

“...Yes, I suppose that’s fitting. He’s the only one of his kind, you see, and rather than have him destroyed, I thought Mika might be able to find his potential.”

Mika listened to this, all the while observing the unusual looking toy.

Yes, it had a few quirks, but there was undoubtedly a charm to him that Mika couldn’t quite put her finger on. So, she happily took the squirrel from her Grandfather, setting aside the doll from earlier to place it in her lap.

“I think I’ll call him… Simon. Simon Tabby.”

Her Grandfather nodded his approval while Naomi and Suzu gawked at her like she’d grown a second head.

“What?” Mika smirked at her friends, holding Simon up and wiggling his paws. “You’re not really scared of such a cute little guy, are you?”

Suzu scoffed, though Naomi looked noticeably paler.

“The next is something to read in bed during a stormy night,” Grandfather Drosselmeyer continued.

He dug around the bag again and Mika held back a gasp when a beautifully decorated leather book was revealed.

It was about the size and thickness of a phone book, with gold and bronze metal detailings along the spine and cover corners.

“Grandfather, it’s lovely!” Mika breathed.

“Ah, but I think you’ll like what’s inside even more,” he said with an arched brow.

Opening the book gently, Mika watched as he flipped through the parchment pages to reveal dozens of hand-painted illustrations and cursive script.

“A collection of as many tall tales and legends as I could find throughout my travels. I know how much you love a good story; when you were little, you wouldn’t settle down until I’d read you every book I had on my shelves.”

Mika wrinkled her nose playfully. “Every book? Knowing your library, I never would’ve slept.”

Grandfather groaned dramatically, head sagging to his chest. “Oh, you didn’t. Just thinking about those long nights chasing you up and down the hallways is enough to make me feel my age tenfold.”

Mika’s giggles were bubbly as she leaned forward to take the book, being mindful of Simon Tabby in her lap.

It was shockingly light for its size, only a third of the weight Mika had been expecting. Opening to the index, she read dozens of titles, some she recognized and others she didn’t.

Just picturing the hours of work that must’ve been needed to create it had a tingling warmth fill her chest.

Closing the tome gently, she offered it to Naomi, who began skimming the chapters curiously. Suzu scooted over to sneak a peek.

“And last, but certainly not least…” Grandfather Drosselmeyer trailed off quietly, reaching in with both hands and a small wistful smile.

Slowly, he pulled out a wooden box with a dark spiral pattern burned into the lid.

“A set of loyal protectors.”

He opened the case, hinges creaking, and this time, Mika’s breath did rush out in a soft gasp.

Four tin soldiers laid in the box’s velvet lining, adorned in matching military uniforms. Each one had a different colour lapel and hat brim. They were incredibly well made, with distinguishing features such as hair and eye colour.

And in the centre of the Soldiers was the most handsome Nutcracker Mika had ever seen.

Brilliant emerald eyes seemed to shine from behind the brim of his hat and brown bangs. A sword was tucked carefully into his left holster.

Mika didn’t even realize she was crying until her vision blurred, hot tears fluttering on her bottom lashes.

“You like them?” Grandfather asked tenderly, and in response, Mika held out her hands.

“Can I hold them, please?” she whispered with a choked voice.

Grandfather smiled. “Of course you can, dear. They’re yours.”

Mika received the chest with the utmost care, gingerly running her fingers over the five figurines.

“Did you make them, Grandfather Drosselmeyer?” Mika murmured, still enraptured with her gift.

Grandfather shook his head. “I can’t say that I did, though they’ve been through a great deal with me over the years. Now, I give them to you: to protect my most precious Granddaughter.”

Mika was in two minds. She so desperately wanted to throw her arms around her Grandfather and give him the tightest hug she could. But instead, she found herself strangely fixated with the soldiers that lay before her.

They radiated with life, just shy of breathing. It felt as if she took her eyes off them for even a second, they’d simply stand up and run off with a will of their own.

Drosselmeyer broke her trance by reaching down and carefully removing the Nutcracker, reassuring his suddenly panicked Granddaughter with an amused smile.

“Don’t worry, sweetie, I just want to make sure he’s still working properly after our long journey.”

Mika released the breath she’d inadvertently been holding, rightfully embarrassed at her covetousness. As her cheeks bloomed red, Grandfather Drosselmeyer waved off her stammered apology as he reached into his coat pocket.

“It warms this old man’s heart to see just how much you still enjoy his tricks, my dear. And speaking of tricks…”

He revealed a single walnut. Placing it inside the Nutcracker’s mouth, it only took a quick pull on the lever in his back to crush the nut into pieces.

“Whoa!” Suzu exclaimed, leaning up on her knees as Drosselmeyer brushed away a bit of stray dust from his pant leg. “That’s awesome!”

“Yes, he’s certainly a handy fellow, isn’t he? But at my age, soups and a nice soft muffin are more fitting. So I hope you’ll find some use for him, Mika.”

Mika rolled her eyes at her Grandfather’s joke but quickly focused her attention back on the Nutcracker. “I promise I’ll take the best care of him, Grandfather. You have my word.”

Grandfather Drosselmeyer’s eyes glimmered with intrigue as he raised a brow. “And there is power in our words, hmm?”

Suzu and Naomi might’ve thought the sudden gravity behind her next sentence was out of place. But to Mika, having her Grandfather’s trust meant more to her than anything.

When you grow up around people who view lying as natural as breathing, you either learn the importance of fidelity and honesty, or you become them.

And Gods did that terrify her.

“Every single one,” Mika swore earnestly and was rewarded with a proud smile from Grandfather Drosselmeyer. He handed back the Nutcracker, and Mika held him carefully under one arm as she stood to meet her Grandfather’s hug.

“Thank you, Grandfather Drosselmeyer,” Mika whispered fervently.

“You’re most welcome, sweetie,” her Grandfather whispered back.

If he noticed how desperately she clung to him, he didn’t mention it. He simply returned the embrace for as long as Mika needed it, only moving back when she loosened her grip slightly a few moments later.

She looked up to see the adoration shining in his eyes, and Mika’s heart felt lighter than it had in weeks.

Finally, after every silent meal, cold glance and forced smile, finally... the house was her home again.

-❄-

There you have it, the first chapter! I really hope it was as fun to read as it was to write and plan out.

The story will follow the classic ballet along with a few twist and turns of my own design, and since I'm still polishing a few bits and pieces for the later chapters, any and all feedback is much appreciated!

Oh, and by the way, I won't be revealing which boy Mika ends up with until a little later into the story. Feel free to take your guesses as to who the lucky fella will be!

#my writing #seduce me otome #seduce me the otome #seducemeotome #fanfiction #the nutcracker #christmas #fluff #mika anderson #visual novel #suzu #naomi #enjoy this first chapter!

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kenkamishiro · 5 years

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Ishida’s Q&A comments from YJ compilation, Part 8

Once again Ishida continuing to give answers that don’t actually answer the questions at all lol.

For anyone who doesn’t know about the relevant Questions to Ishida contest, please read here. You can start from Part 1 here.

The recent set of zakki:re and interview translations take a lot of time and effort, so if you enjoyed it please reblog or leave a like. Thank you!

2016

No. 1

Still 1 month left of this year! What’s something you still have left to do for 2015?

The storyboard.

Good luck.

No. 2

Sensei, please share with us a piece of news that was important to you in 2015!

I forget.

I wasn’t feeling so great in 2015.

No. 3

December 17 is Airplane Day! Now then, please share with us a memory you have that is related to airplanes!

I like the window seats.

Probably that time on the plane to head to the New Years party, when the staff was forced to stop because of me...

[T/N: Referring to his New Year’s party escapades in the volume 6 omake.]

No. 4-5

December 24 is Christmas Eve! Now then, please share with us a present that you want now as an adult!

I don’t need one since I’m an adult.

Even adults want presents too, you know!

No. 6-7

When you think of New Year’s Day...you think of New Year’s money!! Please share with us one way you spent the money you received from New Year’s when you were a child!

On games.

I was jealous of other people’s families since I didn’t have a lot of relatives.

No. 8

Sensei, please tell us your philosophy when it comes to food!

I think of meals as work.

I consider meals as work when I’m eating alone. When I go with people I eat whatever I like.

No. 9

January 28 is the birthday of the late Komatsu Sakyou! Now then, please share with us one of your favourite sci-fi works!

Gantz.

It’s not Star Wars...

No. 10

Please share with us one aspect or behaviour of the opposite sex that you unconsciously care about!

Their face.

How they use social media.

No. 11

Please share with us a Twitter account that you’re most interested in now!

Inagawa Junji-san’s for his ghost story tweets.

I find that accounts of artists are helpful for studying.

No. 12

Please share with us one of your favourite genres/videos that you end up watching on video streaming sites.

I got Netflix so I could watch Terrace House.

I still use it.

No. 13

If you were to ever film a Taiga drama who would you pick as the main character?

Siebold.

But why?

[T/N: A Taiga drama is a type of long-running TV drama period piece, often produced by NHK.]

No. 14

Graduation season is in full bloom! Now then, please share with us one of your favourite graduation songs!

“Lion” by Amano Tsuki.

Uh-huh, yup.

[T/N: "Lion” was one of the songs included in Ishida’s Spotify playlist.]

No. 15

Sensei, if you could decide the design of the 10,000 yen bill, who would it be a portrait of?

A cat.

A cat...?

No. 16

Today is Weekly Manga Day! Please tell us your number one favourite manga that is released weekly!!

I’m curious about what Ooima Yoshitoki-san will draw for her next manga.

Just how much do you care?

No. 17

Sensei, please share with us one thing that makes you go, “Man, I wanna go see this,” now?

Commentary on demonstration boards for shogi.

I went to one! Man, was it interesting.

No. 18

The final day of March is...Orchestra Day! Now then Sensei, please share with us a memory you have that’s related to musical instruments!

I bought a piano recently, and I’ve been playing it almost every day.

And I still play it.

No. 19

Entrance ceremony season has arrived! Now then, please tell us about a schoolteacher who’s left the biggest impression on you!

Some student hacked the school server and the teacher intercepted the culprit.

That’s the kind of school I attended.

No. 20

New dramas are starting one after another! Now then, please share with us a series that’s left the biggest impression on you among all the dramas that you’ve seen recently!

Right now I’m currently watching Mad Men.

I watched all of Mad Men. I can’t believe what happened at the end of “Meditations”...

[T/N: Not entirely sure what Ishida meant by that last line, but I think “Meditations” refers to the last episode of the second season, titled “Meditations in an Emergency”.]

No. 21

Sensei, please share with us one game that’s popular in your circle!

The staff and I often play Mafia a lot together.

Recently we’ve been playing table RPGs.

No. 22-23

Today is the day in which the elephant was first introduced to Japan! Now then, please share with us a person/thing/culture from overseas that you would like to come to Japan!

David Downton-san.

I don’t think that.

No. 24

It’s that time of year where it’s getting warmer even at night! Now then, please share with us something about hanging out at night that you still remember!

That time I went drinking at a bar in the outskirts of Tokyo with Takahashi Kunimitsu-kun.

I don’t want to go there again.

[T/N: Referring to that time in April 2016 where Ishida and Takahashi were at a bar and a middle-aged woman started hitting on Takahashi for 3 hours lol.]

No. 25

May 19 is Boxing Day! Now then Sensei, please share with us what you thought was the best match ever!

I like the match with David Haye.

Clearly it’s Darth Maul vs. Obi-Wan.

No. 26

Please share with us a story about a debacle that you or someone else caused at a drinking party!

The first time I met Nakayama Atsushi-sensei, I made so much of a fool of myself.

I was so piss-drunk that I fell asleep in the bathroom I think.

No. 27

When you think of June you think of June Bride! Now then Sensei, please share with us a story that you remember that has to do with weddings!

I drew the welcome board for my friend’s wedding.

That time I left early since I didn’t want to be late for my senpai’s wedding, but the flight ended up being delayed by over an hour...

No. 28

Sensei, please share with us one of your favourite literary works for children!

Ringing Bell by Yanase Takashi.

Stormy Night.

[T/N: Ringing Bell (Chirin no Suzu) was referenced in :re by Kaneki during Arima’s death scene. You can read about it here. Stormy Night also seems to have influenced :re.]

No. 29

June 16 is Wagashi Day! Now then Sensei, please share with us a confectionary that you like!

It’s not available in Fukuoka, but sweet mochi cake.

I want some now.

[T/N: Wagashi is traditional Japanese confectionaries.]

No. 30

June 23 is Olympics Day! Now then Sensei, please share with us a competition from the Olympics that you still remember to this day!

Uchimura Kouhei’s horizontal bar performance at the London Olympics.

I don’t really watch TV much, so questions like these are tough for me to answer.

No. 31

Please share with us your slogan for the latter half of 2016!

I won’t be late. I wasn’t able to keep that promise for the first half of the year.

Good luck with that.

No. 32

Sensei, please secretly tell us about one shop that you think is the King of Restaurants!

The Chinese restaurant by my previous workplace.

The stir-fried oyster with lettuce was perfection.

No. 33

Summer has arrived! Now then Sensei, what do you think of as “summer food”?

The spicy Mexican crispy noodle salad from Family Mart.

Ah that, that was so good. But I don’t see them sold anywhere now...

No. 34

If you could see exactly one historical event or incident live in person, what would you want to see?

I want to see Tezuka Osamu-sensei’s workplace.

The Perry Expedition.

[T/N: Tezuka is the “father of manga”, having drawn iconic manga like Astro Boy, Black Jack, and the currently airing anime Dororo.]

No. 35

When you think of summer, you think of the ocean! If you could raise just one sea creature as a pet what would you choose?

An octopus.

So I can eat it.

No. 36

Sensei, please share with us the most nerve-wracking moment you’ve ever experienced in your life!

That time when I had to address a speech to over a hundred people for the launch of the anime.

Finishing the manuscript before the deadline of the final chapter.

No. 37-38

Sensei, please share with us a word or phrase that’s been stuck in your head recently!

“Pandas exploding in the wild.”

It’s from group_inou.

No. 39

Sensei, please share with us a small luxury that you use in your everyday life!

On days I stay up all night I buy carbonated drinks.

Feels kinda pathetic huh.

No. 40

The disbanding of idol groups nationwide is hot news, but please tell us about an experience that you’re still reluctant to part ways with.

A little while ago, I bought a copy of Jump every week for several months.

It was so I could read Hunter x Hunter.

[T/N: Question is most likely talking about the disbanding of the top male idol group SMAP which was announced around this time of the year.]

No. 41

Sensei, what item makes you think, “whoever invented this is a genius”?

The PC.

Amazon.

No. 42

What was the most interesting reception you’ve received up until now that has made you the happiest?

I got a shikishi from the staff to commemorate 100 chapters of being serialized. Though no one from that time is left anymore...

I also got a shikishi from the current staff. I was happy.

No. 43

Sensei, please share with us a moment that’s made you feel the generation gap the most!

Encountering people who were born in the 2000′s.

Sha-Mail.

No. 44

It’s Reader Autumn! Please tell us what you consider as your bible!

Recently it’s “Speak Aloud and Rhyme”.

Now it’s “Drawing the Morphological Human Body with Boxes and Cylinders”.

No. 45

Sensei, please tell us about a manga/anime/novel that you’d like to see as a movie!

I’m looking forward to “Satoshi: A Move for Tomorrow” being released this fall.

I missed the chance to watch it.

No. 46

Sensei, what were you most enthusiastic about playing with when you were in school?

Smash Bros.

Games that are updated periodically.

No. 47

Sensei, please tell us about something that you’ve used for many years and have been unable to throw away!!

I throw things away when I need to.

My Cintiq 22HD (DTK-2000/K1) LCD tablet. The size and responsiveness of it matches it better than the latest model.

No. 48

Sensei, when was the moment you felt you became independent?

If I’m living.

What? Probably when I got my pay cheque.

No. 49

November 2 is Family Culture Day! Sensei, please tell us about a rule that’s only found in your household!

Playing no more than 1 hour of games a day.

That’s proper.

No. 50

Sensei, please share with us any furniture/interior work that you want to replace right now!

The bookshelf.

Same.

No. 51

Sensei, please share with us the first CD you’ve ever bought!

Morishita Reika’s “Your Wind is Blowing” (most likely).

Most likely, yeah.

No. 52

This year has had various movies become blockbuster hits, but in your opinion what work do you consider as a hit?

It’s actually a drama, but Game of Thrones.

I recommend it.

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#Tokyo Ghoul #zakki:re #Ishida Sui #Ishida Q&A #Translations #my translations #these series of questions were especially enjoyable #also lol the last one #the timing for it couldn't be worse huh

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rickyriddle · 5 years

Text

Shutou Suzu analysis

Hello everyone! Been a while since I did a AnR analysis huh, well here I am, back for some analyzing. This time the character I’ll analyze is everyone’s favourite grandma, Shutou Suzu! This analysis will be kinda a challenge for me, since unlike other AnR characters I can’t base my analysis on a mental disorder, and analyzing through a disorder is mainly my specialty. But I’m gonna do my best! I wanted to make a Kouko analyzing at first but I kinda got requested to make a Suzu analysis. Okay, now is time to start the analysis. Get ready for an analysis about I believe one of the most interesting AnR characters.

Let’s start by talking about Suzu’s backstory. Suzu is estimated to be born during the Meiji Restoration era (1868 to 1912), so she is over 100 years old. Let’s say that the series happened the same year the anime aired (2014), Suzu would be between 102 and 146 years old. But since a lot of people think AnR happened in a more futuristic setting, she could be even much older than that. In the past, she used to be close to a man named Takeo, who she described as her precious person. People assumed he was her lover. Their birthday was only one day apart and he was one year younger, so they often joked about the fact they will never have the same age. This became ironic when Suzu developed her illness, the Highlander Syndrome. Since she couldn’t age anymore, Takeo became older than her, and eventually left Suzu for another woman. Suzu eventually learned about her disorder and that with modern medicine, there was no cure. Now, the consequences of her illness are different between the official translation and the fan translation, so I need to talk about both of them.

In the fan translation, it’s said that her illness prevents her body to age and collapse. Which means Suzu is totally immortal, she can’t die of old age. In the official translation, it’s said that her body can’t temporarily age, but that when she’ll reach a critical point she’ll suddenly and quickly aged. Both outcomes are horrible and tragic in their own way, but not the same way. For the fan translation, Suzu’s fate is to always outlive everyone she loves, condemning her to solitude. In the official translation, Suzu’s fate is to temporarily outlive those she loves, before being eventually instantly killed by her illness in a pretty gruesome way (her flesh breaks down immediately). I don’t know for sure which one is the right translation. Personally, I think the fan translation one is the correct one, because in KnR epilogue Kouko said “I’ll definitely outlive you so you won’t be alone anymore” and it makes me feel like Suzu really can’t die, well not naturally, otherwise if she could Kouko’s statement wouldn’t have felt so impossible. But this analysis is not to debate about it, in both cases to outlive people she loves, but in one she also had the stress of suddenly dying of a flesh break down.

Before going further, I want to discuss Suzu’s personality before Class Black. As a regular teenager, she was showed to be pretty normal, a little bit frivolous, more into entertainment then intellectual activities. She didn’t seem particularly smart, nor dumb, her intelligence seemed pretty average. She was also shown to be kind of playful, and even childish. Really different from the Suzu we know during Class Black. Later in her life, she’s showed to become more and more jaded when people tell her happy birthday, since she was still looking young and people kept leaving her behind. When she learned the truth, that she was sick, she looked really desperate and sadden, she even I think cried over it. So she used to be really sensitive, which she isn’t really anymore.

Before continuing with Suzu’s current personality, let’s talk a little bit about the context of her past. Suzu lost one of the most important people for her, not because he died (well, he eventually did, but that’s not the point), but because he abandoned her for another woman. Being abandoned by someone she loved and trust must have been really painful, especially since even though she didn’t know about her illness, Suzu must have known she was different. And more and more people commented at her birthday how young she looks, reminding her how different she was, how abnormal she is, which made her birthday, usually the happiest day of a year, a cruel reminder of her difference and of her past lover’s abandon. And then it became worst when she discovered that she had the Highlander Syndrome, which confirms to her that not only she’ll never be normal, but she's condemned to always outlive people she loves and ending up alone (or having a sudden and gruesome death). This must have put her on so much stress and despair. So she continued her life, knowing her rather tragic fate, with as her only hope to eventually have a cure for her illness.

But there’s not only her personal experience as context. Let’s not forget that Suzu was born into a totally different time, with different values and morals. The Meiji Restoration era was when Japan restored practical imperial rules, when Japan was still an Empire. It was an era with a lot of changes going on, primarily Japan stopped being an isolated feudal society. So it was starting to be less military-minded when Suzu was born and more modern. Then it was the Taishou era, who’s described as the time of the liberal movement known as the "Taishō democracy". But then, it was the showa era. A really military-driven era where Japan moved into political totalitarianism, ultranationalism and fascism. This is also when the 2 World Wars happened. It’s also the era where Japan transform into a democracy with a constitutional monarch. So Suzu lived through those two wars and which Japan participated for the second one as allies for Nazi Germany. And the Second Sino-Japanese War also happened during this era. Suzu when through so many changes, she was exposed to many ideologies, to war, political changes. She probably had to adapt to all those changes, even if she didn’t necessarily condone them. All of this shaped her as the person she became later.

Now that we when through some context, we can talk about Suzu’s current self. In AnR, she showed to be a really knowledgeable person, quite wise, calm, and pretty intelligent, and somewhat cunning. Those are traits that her younger self didn’t have, and a result of her long life. All of that she went through made her this way. She experienced so many political and ideology changes, which made her knowledgable and wise. And this knowledge and wiseness are what contributed to her current intelligence. She wasn’t really smart during her young day, but her current self is. So her intelligence isn’t nature, it’s nurture. She developed it through her incredible life experience. Suzu is also quite calm as a person. She barely never show intense emotions. I believe that after all the stress and despair she went through, Suzu became kind of jaded, or emotionally numb. Like if after everything she went through she was so emotionally exhausted that her emotions became numb. But Suzu still has emotions, they are just less intense now. Two things that cause emotional responses from her are Kouko and her condition. Suzu can be really enthusiastic and even playful when she’s with Kouko. And when Nio made a comment about how being immortal would be cool, Suzu became pretty gloomy (anime only). So I believe Suzu can only be really emotional when it comes to someone she likes or her illness. And I think that Suzu did experience distress about being different and abnormal at some point, but that it eventually faded away since she had matured. Right now, rather than feeling bad about this, she’s more focus in finding a cure so she can finally be normal and die. She also seems to value hard work over luck.

Which brings us to another topic. Suzu during Class Black. Suzu joined Class Black with the wish of finding a cure so she can finally age and die normally. She immediately took an interest in Kouko, her roommate, and she often informed her classmates about certain details, like Sumireko’s family and Otoya being a serial killer. She was enough knowledgable to know that, but in Otoya’s case, it’s not only that. She correctly guessed that Otoya was Jack the Ripper of the 21st Century, which is more than just knowledge. She was able to analyze her behaviour and determined her true nature, and associate her to an infamous serial killer. So we can add analyst to the list of Suzu’s skills. After Kouko’s expulsion, Suzu became the class representative. She had some interesting moment with her classmates, especially Hitsugi.

One was a foreshadowing of how old Suzu actually is, and that despite how old she was, even herself couldn’t perfectly guess what kind of person someone was (tho judging by how she guess Otoya’s true nature I would say she pretty good). It gave her a more serious and a little bit dark vibe.

The other show that Suzu isn’t insensitive to romance. She does find Tokaku and Haru cute together, and talked about how she finds Romeo & Juliet (and by extension Chitaru and Hitsugi) beautiful because it’s first love. I think it’s because it reminded her of her past, of Takeo who maybe was her first love and it did end tragically, at least for her. Suzu is sensitive when it comes to young love, especially first love, since it reminds her of herself and Takeo. It makes her nostalgic and also melancholic, something I discuss in my anr disorders analysis.

Before going there, let’s take time to talk about Suzu’s interest. The series shows that she’s really into bath and like to use bath salt (apparently bath bomb in the official translation, which makes it so funny given the fact she uses bombs). She’s also into stretching. Both could be because her body weakens due to her old age and she needs to ease the pain and strengthen it. So those two hobbies would be a cause of her illness. Suzu is really knowledgable in flowers, especially their meaning, and even in her young days, she liked flower. But her long life gives her more knowledge about this subject. Suzu is also into games, especially shogi (Japanese chess), and maybe cards game. But shogi is special to her. After all, it’s Takeo who taught her shogi. This game reminds her of him, it makes her nostalgic, and even melancholic. She even keeps dreaming about him and her past with him. No matter how long it was, she’ll keep thinking about him, and shogi represents her nostalgia and melancholia, both caused by her immortality. In a way, all her interests are a cause of her illness.

Right, we were talking about Suzu during Class Black. Suzu tried to kill Haru on her birthday by putting a bomb necklace around her neck, a gift she received from Kouko. But instead of instantly killing Haru by making the bomb exploded, she decided to turn her assassination attempt into a somewhat fair game. She set a death trap that could have got Tokaku killed, but even if they lost the last card, Suzu talked about her past, revealing an important clue: Takeo’s birthday. And she reminded them of it after they lost the card. Haru understood this clue and won the game. Despite still having time, Suzu decided to give up.

And that will bring us to a more headcanon part of this analysis. Is Suzu truly an assassin? I already talk about it in one of my analysis, The meaning of assassin in AnR, check it if you haven’t yet. So, Suzu is indeed considered as an assassin during her time at Class Black because she agreed to do an assassination attempt. But what about her before Class Black, in her everyday life? I highly doubt she’s an actual assassin. Nothing in her backstory suggests that she’s one. Then, how did she get into Class Black? My theory is that she’s an acquaintance of Yuri. They met in the past for an unknown reason, and Yuri learned about the Highlander Syndrome. Given Suzu’s skills, she considered that she could be a strong opponent for Haru and decided to invite her to Class Black. It’s somewhat implied in KnR that they could be old acquaintance, even if it was more of a joke. And it wouldn’t be the first time someone managed to get into Class Black because they know Yuri. Remember Sumireko? It’s implied that Yuri was her teacher when she was a child (Sumireko called her Yuri-sensei). And Yuri invited her to Class Black when she was still a kid. I highly doubt that Sumireko was an assassin when she was that age. So it proves that not only you don’t need to be an actual assassin to be invited, but that knowing Yuri can get you into Class Black. So my theory about Suzu knowing Yuri and being invited because of that is a possibility.

Another thing that makes me doubt Suzu is an actual assassin, her behaviour during her assassination attempts. She could have killed Haru so easily, she had so many chances to just make the bomb explode. But she didn’t. And it makes me think that she simply couldn’t. She can’t kill someone out of cold-blood, because she’s not an actual killer. She never killed before. And killing for someone who hasn’t been trained or doesn’t lack empathy is really hard. So she made it a game as a way to distance herself from the act of killing, she gave Haru chances to survive so she wouldn’t feel like she’s actually killing her. If Haru dies, it’s Haru’s fault for losing, not hers. I even wonder if she actually wanted to kill Haru. Suzu does want her wish to be granted, but maybe she does have second thoughts about killing to have it. Maybe she gave this clue about Takeo’s birthday because, in the end, she didn’t want Haru to die. But that’s mainly speculation. But I’m convinced that Suzu’s main reason to make it a game was because she was simply not an actual killer.

Now let’s talk about how I personally view Suzu. To me, she’s the most neutral character in the show. Unlike others, her wish isn’t to help someone, obey to an organization, or simply to harm others. Her wish is 100% for herself. She’s not someone who would help or hurt someone unless it benefits her. Even though I do think that deep down, she’s a good person, I feel like she’s more a morally grey person. She’s over 100 years old, she when through stuff most people would never experience, someone like her as a different outlook on life than others. She still put an innocent girl through a death game and even seemed to enjoy it in a way, and she nearly caused Tokaku’s death. Suzu is capable of cruelty, but only if it serves her goal. But she’s also capable of kindness and genuine sympathy, especially towards Kouko, like after the main series she took care of an injured Kouko. So I would say Suzu is neither good or bad, but neutral. After losing people she loved and being abandoned, it’s possible Suzu lost interest in others and started to only think about herself, valued her desire over those of others, and even consider herself different due to her immortality. But if she remains with Kouko, she might become a better person and re-learned to care for someone else other than herself.

This brings us to another point I would like to discuss about Suzu: her relationship with Kouko. Kouko is the person Suzu was the closest to during Class Black. Even though Suzu was relatively friendly and polite to her classmates, she also felt a little bit distant from them. Suzu knows that everyone she gets close to will outlive her, it happened to her so many times, so she probably doesn’t want to get too close to not go through this pain again. She condemns herself to solitude to not suffer anymore. But she seems to make an exception for Kouko. But why? The first time interaction we saw between them was during their introduction. Kouko declared herself leader of everything and it’s at this exact moment that Suzu showed interest in her. Seems like Suzu has a type: bossy and assertive people. I think that at first, Suzu was intrigued by Kouko. And since they were roommate she felt the need to at least get a little bit closer to her. I think that what makes her want to be with Kouko is how intelligent Kouko is. Suzu being herself pretty smart, she was able to bond intellectually with Kouko. Kouko is really mature for her age so Suzu doesn’t feel like she’s a child, making it easier for her to bond with her. Suzu agreed with Kouko’s wish (to quit her assassin job), and I think that perhaps she doesn’t feel like it’s right for her to be an assassin, and maybe if give her a new form of respect towards Kouko to want to take control over her life and choose for herself. In KnR, Suzu describe Kouko as diligent, but clumsy (which makes her want to protect her) and with a dark past (which makes her want to comfort her), Suzu is able to sympathize with Kouko’s past, because she knows how it feels to lose someone she loved and feel responsible for it. They may have really different past, they can still relate to that. Suzu also describes Kouko as adorable, so her attraction to her is a mix of her personality and physical appearance.

Speaking of KnR, let’s talk about Suzu’s portrayal in this series. In KnR Suzu is shown to be a little bit perverted. She checked Kouko’s panties and pretty much act as a voyeur with her, and given the fact Suzu is over 100 years old and Kouko a teenager, it’s kinda creepy. It felt like she’s a perverted old lady. Like I do think it was only for comedic purpose, but I still view KnR as mainly canon. So I have to take this scene into consideration. I don’t think it’s a big part of Suzu’s overall personality, but I feel like it’s important to acknowledge that Suzu is the type of person who would check young girls’ underwear and spy on them.

I think I’ll stop here. In conclusion, Suzu is a knowledgeable, wise and smart person due to her life experience, she’s mainly a neutral person who works to serve her own goal, but she does have a good side, especially towards Kouko. Her old age and immortality gave her a different outlook on life which makes her morally gray. In my opinion, Suzu is one of the most complex and interesting characters in AnR and I wish there was more content about her, I feel like there’s so much more to explore about her. That’s gonna be all for my analysis, don’t hesitate to tell me your thoughts, and thanks for reading!

#akuma no riddle #riddle story of devil #anr #suzu shutou #shutou suzu #suzukou #suzu x kouko #ricky talk #analysis

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