#oka eri
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Witch, Picture, and Red-Eyed Girl (Sagrada Reset 2) - Chapter 3: The nameless woman (part 4)
[INDEX]
August 9th (Wednesday) - The third time
Asai Kei got off his bed at 09:30 AM on the third August 9th. He ate toast, lettuce, and oiled sardine without sitting down in his kitchen.
Last night, he told Sasano everything that happened pre-Reset. He didn't get any calls from him this time.
At 10 AM, the mailman rang his doorbell. Kei received the parcel. It contained the album with the three photos. A photo of the witch had made Sasano send him this so she could tell him her plan.
Kei looked at the photo of the witch from 30 years ago on the beach. A note was attached to this photo, telling him to come to meet her immediately. But he no longer had any need to do so. He had no need to create a witch that would only last 10 minutes.
Kei flipped the pages to look at a different photo.
A photo of a riverside road. In the sunset, the orange lights formed a contrast with the dense shadows.
Tetrapods appeared in the background. The girl from two years ago stood in the spot where he met her. She extended her right hand to the camera. A small black stone sat atop her palm—seemingly the MacGuffin.
(Why does this photo exist? Sasano said he took it because the sunset was gorgeous that day. I don't think he was lying. But she's in the frame. Can I chalk this up to just a fortunate coincidence? It all falls into place too conveniently. She just happens to be here. And the picture just happened to be taken by Sasano, who has the perfect ability for it. And I just happened to find and now obtain the photo. How many miracles it took for this to happen?)
He didn't feel like thanking God. He could feel the intentionality. Even now that he escaped the witch's future, he was still following someone's script.
He closed the album and locked it in his drawer. He knew the photo was immensely significant.
"Now let's get to business.", he mumbled.
Kei left his room at 10:30.
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The nameless woman was in her usual room. She put her hand to her chest and closed her eyes. To verify which future was set in stone.
But the scene she saw was not the one she knew.
The red-eyed girl wouldn't appear in time. The door wouldn't open. The unchanging woman stood alone in the unchanging room.
(What happened?)
Why did the future change? She didn't know. She went further in time. The first major alteration happened the next day. A hand suddenly sprouted out of the wall. The wall disappeared wherever the hand moved to.
Her voice betrayed her surprise. A voice coming simultaneously from the woman in the future and the woman in the present seeing the future. Two girls and a boy appeared from the other side of the wall.
She knew one of the girls. Haruki Misora. She didn't know the other one. A bespectacled girl with shoulder-length hair. She was the one who erased the door.
"This is a future you need to avoid.", told the boy—Asai Kei—with a daring smile. "Oka Eri won't come here. You'll escape this building in a completely different way."
He took something out of his pants pocket. A few small rectangles. Photographs.
The photos showed the buildings' hallways. The never-opening doors were open in the pictures.
"Check the future. Please find a path where you're guaranteed to leave with these. I can come to this room whenever you call me."
Kei said once again in a clear tone.
"This is a future you need to avoid. If there's a more peaceful way for me to deliver you the photos, this future won't happen."
The nameless woman opened her eyes.
The future disappeared and she was alone in her room as usual.
(Amazing. I never saw my future change this much without my own interference. Absolutely amazing. That boy is trying to protect my future and the red-eyed girl's future at the same time.)
The nameless woman reached out for the telephone atop her desk.
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At 11:00 AM, Kei stood in front of an apartment complex.
It wasn't exactly a high-class building, but it looked noble and comfortable enough. Oka Eri and her mother lived there.
The electronic door opened and the red-eyed girl appeared. Kei had just called her. "I'm waiting in front of your house.", he said. She came out without trying any funny tricks.
"Follow me.", she spoke in a displeased tone.
She walked off and Kei followed next to her.
"Where are we going?"
"Doesn't matter. I just don't want to talk here."
She walked fast.
"Mom's home. Here on the street, she can see us from the window. I don't want any weird prying."
Kei nodded. He liked seeing her concerned about things like this. It reminded him she was 15.
Oka Eri clicked her tongue.
"How did you know my address?"
"Sasano told me."
"Sasano?"
"Remember how you manipulated his memories to make him mail the photos he found to you?"
"Oh.", she frowned. "You're a real stalker, man."
Kei laughed.
"Something like that."
(I never know what Oka Eri might do. I should check out on her more frequently.)
The two walked in silence. They walked for no reason. They could have already stopped when they left the front of the building. But they kept walking. Oka Eri stepped loudly next to him. But it wasn't an earsore. Her steps had an honest, drum-like rhythm that made it feel like she was doing it because she needed it to survive. The steps on the burnt asphalt mixed harmonically with the cries of the cicadas.
"I Reset. I know what you'll do tonight."
Oka Eri's eyes kept looking straight forward.
"And?"
"It's guaranteed to fail. Your ability only works if you make eye contact with someone. If I tell the building personnel about it, you're helpless."
The traffic light ahead of them turned red.
Oka Eri stopped, cutting off the rhythm of the footsteps. She glared fixedly at the light. Cars kept crossing before her eyes.
"I figured you'd Reset."
Kei watched her profile.
Her face was almost expressionless but still looked hurt.
"I was so sure you'd try to save me."
Her tone was quiet. At that moment, Oka Eri resembled Fujikawa Eri.
(No, she always resembled Fujikawa Eri. That much is obvious. They're directly connected by being the same person.)
She shook her head.
"But that's not the right way for things to go."
"Why not?"
"You're too weak. Even I can be a weakness to you."
"And what about it is bad?"
(Protecting you doesn't bother me. Having weaknesses doesn't bother me.)
"Everything. You can't be weak."
The traffic light turned green.
Oka Eri resumed walking. Kei now followed a step behind her.
"And when did your Reset drop you?"
"Last night."
"So it hasn't been 24 hours since it."
"Nope."
Oka Eri cast her eyes down to her feet.
"See, that's my exact problem. This is not the moment for you to come see me. You need to show up, annoyingly composed, only when you have a Save ready and have planned precautions for everything I try."
(Why would I need all this preparation every time I'm going to see a girl?), Kei sighed.
"You're right that I'm pretty defenseless right now."
"Yeah."
"But I'm not in any danger."
Oka Eri stopped and raised her head. Kei also stopped and looked her in the eye. With the footsteps gone, only the cries of the cicadas filled their ears.
"I'm defenseless, and you can't do anything against me.", said Kei.
It was only natural. There is no danger in an ordinary 15-year-old meeting an ordinary 16-year-old. Society isn't brutal like that.
Oka Eri glared at him for a while. She stared daggers while tears formed in the corner of her eyes. Kei didn't take his eyes off her either. All he could see was a 15-year-old girl.
She suddenly turned her back to him.
"You never play fair."
She lowered her head again and started walking.
"I still need to defeat you. You wanna fight you but you won't let me."
(That's how life is.), he thought. (Most people can't do what you can. To give an easily understandable shape to what we need to fight against. Most enemies aren't as concrete as a video game monster. And the battle is never a straightforward brawl.)
Oka Eri was unable to fight Fujikawa Eri. She can't search for the victory she truly desires by looking without.
Oka Eri silently walked. Her footsteps weren't as loud as they previously were. Kei walked one step behind her. He figured they weren't going anywhere specifically. But as long as they walked, they would end up somewhere.
The two eventually came across a river. The river that led to those tetrapods. On the other side, they could see the ocean and a white lighthouse.
The riverside walk was neatly paved and had multiple benches. Oka Eri sat down on one and sighed. The wind blurred the water reflections. The bright reflected light was hard to follow.
"Dude. Go back to who you were two years ago. If you don't, I won't need to defeat you anymore. I don't mind losing against your stronger self.", Oka Eri eventually muttered.
(If I could, that would have saved Oka Eri, even if momentarily. She would find relief, confirm her beliefs about the strength she seeks, and maybe even temporarily forget that she once was Fujikawa Eri.)
But it was impossible for him to turn his clock back two years.
"If I agreed, would that solve anything?", Kei asked.
"Hah", Oka Eri laughed. "As if. The man you were two years ago would never change himself just because I asked him to."
"Then I can't help you.", Kei smiled.
Oka Eri knew that perfectly well.
"You know, 2 years ago I did all I could. I tried hard to make every idea that crossed my mind come true. I shut all the whining out of my brain. I believed in myself despite having nothing to believe in. I tried like you said I should."
"Uh-huh."
"I changed the way I talk, even bought some colored contacts. I became Oka Eri. I thought that with these contacts on, I'd see the world in different colors. Nothing would look the way it did when I lived in the Fujikawa manor."
Her head hung low. She was about to cry. He quickly noticed the reason.
"Did anything look different?"
"Not one thing.", Oka Eri shook her head. "Turns out colored contacts are only meant to color your irises. They're like donuts. Only red on the borders. So they don't make me see the world red."
"Why don't you exchange them for sunglasses?"
"No way. I actually like them a lot.", she said. "When I look in the mirror, I see a completely different person."
(You should stop wearing red ones. When you look sad, I can only see red behind your half-closed eyelids, and it looks like you were weeping your eyes out. Seeing a red-eyed girl makes me kinda sad.)
Kei didn't say that out loud, of course.
"I'm glad you're enjoying them. They look great on you."
(Surely, I'm only imagining the hints of crying in the girl's red eyes. A grave mistake I shouldn't be making.)
"Damn straight. I sure am glad I'm enjoying them."
She cackled. Grandiosely, and probably forcedly.
"Before you know it, I'll find my way to soundly beat you."
Kei nodded.
"Yeah. I'll be waiting for it."
"You're not supposed to be waiting for it, dude, you're supposed to be dreading it."
"Got it. I'll try my best to dread it.", said Kei. "By the way, wanna catch a movie?"
"No way in hell.", answered Oka Eri.
Under the blue summer sky, the two said "See you later" and parted ways.
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Shortly after he was done waving to her, his phone rang.
A call from Tsushima Shintarou. That was enough for him to know what it was about. Kei pressed the green button.
"There's someone who wants to talk to you.", he said. It was the witch's invitation.
"When?"
"Today. A bureau officer will be picking you up at 4."
"Understood."
Things were going as planned.
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The clock's hands marked 13:30 when Asai Kei arrived home.
After a shower to wash off the sweat, he changed into his school uniform. Then, he put photos of the witch's building in his pocket. The last picture showed two sets of doors open.
(That man in black is not going to notice them, right? No, the witch would have seen it in advance if the plan was a bust. She has all the reason to keep a close eye on the future now.)
His doorbell rang at 16:00. A large man in a black suit stood by his door.
“I am from the Bureau. I’m here to escort you.”, he said.
Kei followed him, pulling his utmost efforts to react the same way he did when he was called to the building pre-Reset.
He was taken to a black sedan, which ran through a southeast road for 15 minutes. In the car, they had the same conversation they did pre-Reset. The only differences were the date and Haruki Misora's absence. Last time, he went to the witch's building on the morning of August 10th. Now he was doing it on August 9th. About 17 hours earlier.
The car entered the parking lot of a small, aged building. Kei got off the car and looked at the building. He proceeded through a hallway and entered an elevator. He walked to the witch's room, without undergoing a body check. He was anxious about it nonetheless. But all he needed to do was to replicate what happened pre-Reset, so he didn't have many difficulties with his acting. Kei closely watched the man touching the door. He locks with his right hand and unlocks with his left. Kei tried to convince himself he noticed that for the first time.
The man in black touched the last door with his left hand. It opened without a sound.
A room with countless books on every wall. The witch was reclined on a wooden chair.
Her face had no expression. She didn't look like the same person as the witch photographed 30 years ago. It was clear she lost a lot.
The door closed behind him.
The nameless woman slowly and very painedly put on an artificial smile. It was an imitation but nonetheless beautiful.
"It’s been a long time. Or should I say this is the first time?"
The same phrase he remembered. This current conversation was meaningless. Delivering the photos in his pants pocket was the only important part. Like an actor on the stage, Kei re-enacted the words scripted pre-Reset.
"Could you tell me your name?"
"Sorry, I don’t have one."
"Then what am I supposed to call you?"
"I don’t know, you don’t need to call me by name. But call me ‘witch’ if you really need to."
"I will."
Kei looked around him. His eyes stopped at the other door in the back of the room. She told him it was her bedroom and explained her living circumstances.
Everything was replicated from the Reset world. She then said, with her artificial smile still plastered to her face:
"Come closer."
Kei took a step closer, then another. He got one step closer than he did pre-Reset, entering her personal space.
"A little lower."
The witch raised her hand and touched Kei's neck. In the perfect spot to hide Kei's body from the camera on the ceiling. She closed her eyes and slipped her left hand into Kei's pocket, pulling the photos out of it.
In the same movement, she lifted her left hand to his neck. Both hands touched Kei's neck. Somewhere along the way, she slipped the photos into the sleeves of her hospital gown-looking robe.
(Mission accomplished.)
She obtained an escape route out of this room.
She opened her eyes, let go of him, and looked at his face.
"I’ve been wanting to meet you, Asai Kei. I always wanted to apologize to you."
Another line she already said before. But now he knew what she wanted to apologize for.
(She was manipulating Oka Eri and me, Eri more so than me, to escape this room. That's probably not the right thing to do. No matter her circumstances, sacrificing a girl's future is unacceptable.)
Who was to blame here?
Oka Eri? The witch and Sasano Hiroyuki? The Bureau?
Oka Eri's actions were the least justified. But the biggest victim in all this was supposed to be her. The witch and Sasano caused all this to make their dream come true but said dream was to let her see her lover again only for the last week of her life. It was trivial and simple. Something that normally would have Kei's blessing. The Bureau locked the witch in the building but no one can deny it was necessary for Sakurada. The witch's ability was too powerful.
(I can't decide who is the victim and who is the perpetrator. Not that I need to. Just wishing for a happier future for everyone is enough.)
"Could you fall in love with a rock?", asked the witch.
That was a sudden question. They didn't have this conversation pre-Reset.
After some thought, Kei shook his head.
"No. Probably not."
He couldn't imagine any scenario that would lead to him falling in love with a rock.
"Yup, that’s how it normally goes. People don’t fall in love with rocks."
The witch smiled. Her smile was still artificial, and still beautiful. But for all it was beautiful, that smile meant nothing.
"Imagine the person you like. Do you like her hands?"
It was an embarrassing question. Kei nodded.
"Yes."
The witch nodded.
"Then I pluck those hands off. Do you still like her without hands?"
Kei laughed.
"How cruel of you."
"Yeah, this is a pretty mean-spirited conversation. Your answer?"
Kei didn't want to answer, but:
"Her lack of hands changes nothing."
"I pluck the legs next. Do you still like her without legs?"
(Ok, I can already see how this conversation leads to loving a rock.)
"Of course."
"Next, her face. I gouge her eyes, smash her nose, tear her ears, and sew her mouth."
"My answer remains the same."
"But she won’t be able to speak or listen to you anymore, you know?"
"That's a real shame."
"You don't mind it?"
"You do, but that's no reason to stop liking her."
The witch nodded and continued.
"Then I turn her body to stone, keeping only her thoughts intact. She becomes one little rock you can fit in the palm of your hand. Unable to talk, unable to move. She’s now a cold pebble that does nothing but think. Can you fall in love with the rock?"
He already knew what to answer.
"Yes, I can."
"But think for a moment. What is the difference between a thinking rock and any other gravel you find by the street?"
"None. The thinking rock is exactly like all the unthinking rocks. They might have minute differences but I wouldn't be able to tell them apart."
Kei slowly shook his head before continuing.
"My first answer was wrong. I'm sure I can fall in love with a rock."
The witch's gaze pierced his face.
She had dropped her facial expression without noticing.
"What do you like in the rock?"
"Her past. The memories we built together."
(If the rock really is her transformed, whenever I looked at her, I could recall past events with a smile on my face.)
"My answer is probably the same as yours. The one I love might be just a pebble.", said the witch. Still with no facial expression.
Just a pebble. Something with no inherent value. A cheap, inorganic object no one would fall in love with under normal circumstances.
"Does that make you sad?", Kei asked.
"Yes, terribly.", the witch answered. "I don't know if I really love anyone. Maybe I'm just trying to believe that I still love someone."
The witch. The nameless woman. For the longest time, she lived only as a system, not allowed human interaction.
Most parts of her essence, such as her emotions, wore out with time.
Her face will never regain their expressions. With nothing, not even sadness on her face, she spoke:
"The past is all I have at this point, and maybe the past is the only thing I can love. That's really sad, in my opinion."
(Loving someone turned to stone means preserving one's love for their past. Preserving one's love for their memories. That's a beautiful emotion. It's pure, appealing, and earnest. But at the same time, it's real and very lonely.)
Because memories only exist within. It's not looking outside. It's like being in a room without visitors, behind doors that never open. Like the independent life of this nameless woman.
The only ones keeping her company were memories incapable of conversation. She had no one capable of speaking with free will to release her from her loneliness.
"If possible, I'd like to confirm if I still love a person."
To confirm if she still can love a flesh-and-blood human, not a rock or a memory in her heart, she will leave this room and go meet Sasano Hiroyuki. She wanted to prove her emotions to herself before her life was over.
The witch raised her hand to Kei.
She touched Kei's chest and closed her eyes. She stayed like this for a long while.
What future was she seeing? He was dying to know. He wanted to know what the future had in stock for Oka Eri, Murase Youka, and Haruki Misora, the people he roped in this incident. But he knew it wasn't the time to ask.
Kei silently looked at the witch's closed eyes.
She eventually raised her eyelids.
"I wanted to see a bit more of your future, but we’re out of time. Any last question?"
After some pondering, Kei asked the same question he asked pre-Reset.
"Why are you a witch?"
The witch also gave the same answer. The only difference was her face. She never regained her expression.
"Do you know the story where the witch flies on a broom and knocks on the window of the man she loved? It’s my favorite. I always wanted to be like her."
(I hope her precious wish comes true. That she gets to knock on the window of a man she still loves.)
"Goodbye then.", she said.
A man in black opened the door behind Kei.
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After leaving the building, Kei pulled out his phone to check the time and noticed he got a message.
It was from Haruki.
8 simple words. "Can you come to see me for a moment?"
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Haruki Misora wasn't feeling well.
It wasn't a health issue. It was more of a mental discomfort. Something close to anxiety but not exactly that. Her heart was resisting some indescribable.
It started the previous night. Haruki slept late and woke up early. She could feel she didn't sleep enough but didn't want to go back to bed. She had breakfast, did her homework, and got the groceries her mother asked her to buy, but the strange feeling didn't pass. After leaving the supermarket, she noticed she forgot the spinach and went back to the store.
After returning home, she spent the next two hours in her room doing nothing. She looked at the center of her room. Kei stood there the previous day.
At 5PM, she sent Kei a message.
[Can you come to see me for a moment?]
A concise phrase. A bit on the dull side, but she didn't know what else to write.
Approximately 10 minutes later, he called.
"What happened?", he asked. With his usual calm voice.
"I don't know.", Haruki answered. She truly had no idea what she was thinking.
After a moment of silence, Kei spoke.
"I have something to do later today."
"Understood."
If he couldn't see her, that's that. She couldn't find a reason to force him to.
"Sorry, I really don't have much time. Are you home?"
"I am."
"Can you leave immediately?"
"Yes."
"Then I see you in 15 minutes. We can meet at..."
He indicated a bus stop not too distant from Haruki's house.
"Understood."
Hearing Haruki's response, he said goodbye and hung up.
(What is the problem with me?), Haruki thought.
She still didn't know.
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10 minutes later, Haruki was at the bus stop.
Soon after, a green bus stopped and Kei came out of it. He was the only passenger dropping off there.
"Sorry for the wait.", he said with a dispassionate smile.
"It was nothing.", Haruki shook her head.
He sat on the bus stop's bench. Haruki took the seat next to him.
"I was with the witch just now."
"Did you hand her the photos?"
"Yeah. I think everything went right."
Kei checked the time on his phone.
"The next bus will be here in 15 minutes. I'd like to take it."
"Where is it going?"
"To Sasano's house. If I keep an eye on him, I'll be able to see the witch again."
"Can I go with you?"
He shook his head.
"No. The fewer people interact with the witch, the best."
She knew that.
Haruki looked at Kei's profile. He sat his elbow on his knee and his face on his hand. His eyes stared into the distance.
"But you're still going?"
"The witch's ability is worth some risk. But there's no reason for the two of us to go."
Haruki nodded. Her brain was convinced.
Her heart, however, was against the idea of further contact with the witch. They could trust she escaped her building. She couldn't imagine her being caught if she was checking the future at every turn. It wouldn't take long for the Bureau to notice the witch's disappearance, and when they do, Kei will definitely be suspected.
(That's a huge risk.), she thought. (Kei knows it.)
Kei made his decision conscious of everything, leaving her with no material to argue against his decision. But for some reason, she despised this.
(I don't understand this feeling. I know Kei never fails. Everything is moving according to his script. I can believe he'll succeed in all his future plans. Even then...)
"Kei, why did you need to rescue the witch?", Haruki asked.
"I didn't do it. Not alone. It was Sasano's photos that saved her, and I only got them thanks to Murase."
"But you're the one who is the most in danger."
He answered without changing his expression.
"Am I? Yeah, I guess I'll be the Bureau's first suspect."
Kei intentionally manufactured this situation. If he wanted to save the witch, he could have abandoned Oka Eri. If he wanted to save Eri, he could have abandoned the witch. To save both, he shouldered the riskiest role.
"I'm not all that concerned. One amicable conversation is all I think it will take to resolve matters here.", Kei laughed.
As if nothing was wrong. That was the typical Asai Kei. He acts calmly as he considers all moving pieces, and eventually solves all problems.
With his eyes half-closed, he continued.
"You and Murase helped me get the photos. I don't think I'll be able to hide that, and the more I try to, the more I'll be trapped in their web. It all depends on what the Bureau will do. That's one question I need to ask the witch about."
(He really thinks that's the biggest problem.)
"Is there anything I can do?", Haruki asked.
Kei shook his head.
"Not now. But I might have a favor to ask you soon."
He unexpectedly looked at her and smiled.
"Trust me, it'll all go well."
She already knew that. And knowing it didn't make her less upset.
She couldn't understand her emotions. There was no reason to doubt Kei, but this still didn't sit right with her.
(I've never been good at verbalizing my feelings. But I need to at least try. I don't have any reason for it but...)
Haruki Misora had a message to convey to Kei.
"I believe you're always right."
(That's how it always has been and how it always will be.)
"So I'll always obey you."
After a short moment of hesitation, Kei agreed.
"You probably will."
"Do you think I'm wrong in doing so, Kei?", Haruki responded slowly, carefully choosing her words.
After saying it out loud, she finally realized.
(I'm probably rejecting this part of me. The fact I support him without question will make me a burden. I could reduce his distress if I made my own decisions. If I was participating in the current incident of my own volition, without his will involved, he wouldn't need to feel so guilty about how he roped me into it. It finally clicked... I'm a burden he's responsible for.)
Kei smiled. She could tell this smile was fake.
"If this were two years ago, I could so easily have said no. The person I was back then would confidently have said I was the only person you could trust."
"Is your answer different now?"
He stayed silent for a long while. His eyes pointed to the distant sky.
There was one small cloud there. A stable cloud. Pure white and mostly immobile. It seemed like he was looking at that cloud.
Eventually, he spoke in a calm voice.
"Sorry. I don't have an answer."
(Why not? What is he thinking? What does he want? I don't know.)
Haruki Misora trusted Asai Kei. And yet she didn't know his deeper emotions.
(Can I really trust something I don't understand? Is this not a logical contradiction? Do I need a clear reason to trust him? Or should I... doubt Kei?)
She felt horrible. She didn't want to think about this. But she had to.
Haruki searched for words. A message to convey.
But she couldn't find them. No matter how long it took, she couldn't find what mattered the most to her.
"Haruki.", he said.
She was always happy to hear him calling her name.
Her ears were to hear his words.
But he didn't say anything. Haruki thought that if he wasn't saying anything, that was because nothing needed to be said. No matter how hard she thought, trusting Asai Kei was all Haruki Misora knew how to do.
Ultimately, the two only sat next to each other on the bench in silence.
The bus eventually arrived and Kei stood up.
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The clock marked past 8 PM.
Asai Kei walked alone under the streetlights. He was on the outskirts of Sakurada, about 20 meters away from Sasano's house. Small bugs fluttered around the surrounding lamps. Three in total. He was blankly watching their irregular movement.
It's been almost 2 hours. He would wait for as long as it took for the witch to appear. He couldn't see the moon on that cloudy night.
He loved the night. His favorite part was how everything lost its contour and their shapes became unclear. He sometimes felt like being engulfed in complete darkness. So deep that he couldn't define even his own contour. He'd like to know whether he would feel peace or anxiety in that situation.
(That was not a normal thing to think.), he laughed. (No one should be wishing to forget their contour, I'm sure.)
He then thought about Haruki.
If he knew the witch would take over two hours to appear, he would have stayed with her longer. She was certainly changing. He imagined the change was painful. Would he have known what was appropriate to tell her if he could have forgotten his own shape? He had no answer. This thought experiment had no meaning.
(Everyone is a prisoner to something. Oka Eri to her previous self, Fujikawa Eri. Sasano Hiroyuki to his memories of the past, as symbolized by his ability. And the witch was a literal prisoner in a locked room. And due to her ability, she was also psychologically a prisoner to the Bureau and to the city's inescapable future. Even if she escaped the building today, she won't be freed from everything overnight. It's a problem without a solution. The witch's case is too extreme. But it's still true that everyone is a prisoner to something.)
On a summer 4 years ago, the witch made her prophecy.
ーSakurada will never let you go.
He couldn't deny it. Kei was deeply imprisoned in Sakurada City, the abilities, the events they cause, and his memories.
(And Haruki Misora is a prisoner to me. Will she be freed if I'm gone? Maybe I really should disappear.)
But that was not the future Kei sought.
(I'm too presumptuous. What I want is too much.)
He wasn't sure if what he wanted was the right thing.
Watching the moonless sky, he heard an engine coming from a long road. Car lights approached. It was a black cab. It stopped not too far away from him. The door opened and the witch came out.
She walked slowly, with unsteady steps. The taxi turned around and went back the way it came from.
The witch stopped in front of him.
"Good evening."
"Good evening. Any problems?"
"None. The hardest thing I did was call a taxi."
Kei nodded and asked.
"What are you going to do next?"
"Leave Sakurada and spend my next days with no memory of my ability."
A week. For this short span of time, she'll forget she's a system and return to being a normal woman. One week later, she'll die.
Kei remembered the witch from 30 years ago, who he met at the beach. She wasn't the real witch. She was her past recreated by Sasano's ability. An identical stranger.
She had a sad smile. She looked like she was about to cry the moment she disappeared. It was an immensely tragic outcome. One that should never happen again.
"I wish for your future to be a happy one."
It was a heartfelt wish.
"Thank you."
The witch smiled, artificially as ever.
"Things will turn out okay, thanks to you."
(I think you need a different expression. I don't want to keep seeing this face, this... beautiful replica of a smile. You need something more... like a mix of anticipation over the prospect of seeing your beloved again and sadness over your impending death. Something more complex and natural... Hah, how weird of me. I want her to be sad about her death. My wish is for everything sad to be gone from this world, and yet I hate seeing someone not sad when she's supposed to be.)
He wanted her to be happy only after properly acknowledging all of her sadness for what it was.
"Do you want to know your future?", she asked.
Kei nodded.
"Even if it's a painful one?"
He nodded again.
"Yes, please."
It was a moonless night. Humid and marked by the cries of bugs.
For a few minutes, the witch told Asai Kei about his future.
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For a few minutes, the nameless woman told Asai Kei about his future.
There was no point in telling him what would come after it.
After a long moment of silence, Kei spoke with a sentimental smile.
"Thank you very much."
The two shared short farewells.
The nameless woman turned back and walked away from the boy. She left to be called by her name one more time. To become a proper human being again. To confirm that she still had a heart capable of love.
It was a dark night.
Sasano Hiroyuki's house was still 20 meters away, a distance she took a long time to walk. She was nervous. Very, very nervous. She didn't know if she'd be able to feel anything when she saw his face or when he called her name.
(I wish this road went on forever.)
She was somewhat afraid of her test's results. But she never stopped walking. She was in front of Sasano's house before she knew it.
Her chest hurt progressively more. A sign of how close she was to her deathbed? Or a product of her nervousness? She didn't know. It didn't matter.
The wind blew, cutting through the clouds and making a thin rim of the moon visible in the sky. The light of the moon hit the garden, making the aged cherry tree stand out from the darkness. She suddenly remembered it.
(This is where I heard the story of the witch meeting her lover again._
On a spring day 50 years ago, she felt love upon hearing him stumble on his poor attempts to tell a story.
She passed by the tree and stood in front of the only window with its lights on. She softly closed her eyes. However, she felt no need to touch her chest. There was no point in seeing the future now.
Her blurry face reflected in the glass was smiling.
A very natural smile.
But she didn't notice it. She didn't need to notice to be sure.
(My feelings didn't change with time. I still have all of them. Look at how anxious I am to meet him again.)
Sure of herself, she opened her eyes. With a slow hand and a speedy heart, she smacked the glass twice.
The witch knocked on the window to her lover's room.
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5 decades ago.
A 13-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl were under the cherry tree.
"And then, the witch knocked on the window to her lover's room.", said the boy.
"And then?", asked the girl.
"He opened his window, startled... and then..."
The boy didn't know what happened next. This was a story he was making up on the spot entirely for the girl, so there's no proper conclusion to be found anywhere.
All they knew is that the story reached its happy ending when the lovers saw each other again.
"The two lived happily ever after.", said the boy.
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Oc doodles :) maybe some notes under the cut?
Also, please send asks about them or to them! Or suggest names! If you ask either of them a question I’ll try to draw a response in character :D
Still unsure what to name them, but they’re twins! I’m thinking of splitting up a word and having their names together mean something, like oka and eri for okaeri (welcome home) but I don’t like those names, I feel like they don’t fit :( for simplicity right now I mostly just say the pink one and the blue one.
If they ever expand into an actual universe, since I’m a huge fan of the specific genre of shonen that has some kind of organization fighting monsters with a few captains or leaders at its head, that’s probably what it’d turn into. They would be like the child genius archetype, but there’s 2 of them! And they handle it a bit differently from each other.
The pink one is intense and often looks angry or scowls at people, since they’ve found that even though they aren’t particularly intimidating with just the glare, the glare coupled with the reminder that they are powerful enough to knock people on their asses in 5 seconds and that they have authority over their subordinates tends to keep people in line.
Other than this, the pink one is very diligent and disciplined, and enjoys the indulgence of candy and anything childish behind closed doors— very few are privy to the knowledge that they love caramel.
The blue one, on the other hand, is a lot more laid-back and doesn’t mind things too much. Because of their comparatively calmer demeanor, they’re often treated as mature or wise beyond their years. Sometimes their nonchalance gets them some flak (from their twin, especially) since it seems like they don’t take things seriously, but they tend to get more work done at midnight, when nobody else is up to see them work, hence why nobody thinks they’re ever working.
Despite the pink one trying harder to portray themself as a ruthless and powerful figure of authority, the blue one is actually usually more ruthless in battle. They get their job done quickly and cleanly, making sure not to get even a spot of dirt or grime on their scarf. The pink one, on the other hand, will take an easy kill if they see it but otherwise avoid fighting. To this end, the blue one will take missions usually meant for the pink one to keep the pink one out of combat. That said, the pink one is actually very capable at fighting. If the blue one is good at emotionlessly destroying an enemy, then the pink one is exceedingly good at channeling anger into violence. Kind of like mob, I guess? They have moments when they explode, and that explosion is the instant that they pull their hairpin out.
Still figuring out their powers and such, though I was playing around with the idea of their hair ornaments being their weapons but shrunk down. Like, two hair clips on the blue one being twin jitte and the hairpin keeping the pink one’s hair up as a sword.
The two have a bit of a strained relationship and aren’t quite as close as they were when they were kids but when it matters they’d never intentionally hurt each other and definitely would go out of their way to protect each other. That’s it on the for now :)
#oc#I hope it’s not too obvious that I made the blue one around the time that I was reading Tokyo revengers lmao#not even sure when or where the pink one is from#I think I tried to draw Klee and it didn’t work so I put some Liyue style clothes on her and eventually decided to pull the hair up
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in some crazy world where it's actually possible somehow... 🛌 for khloe and eri :) :) :) to be honest khloe is probably not very fazed at all but-- what the eri thinkin...
Send 🛌 for our muses to wake up in bed together after having had sex together for the first time the night before.
"..."
"Khloe... I-I'm really glad you agreed for me to... ah... study your anatomy so I could shapeshift into you with perfect accuracy, and... I-It sounded like you weren't that impressed, but...-"
... This is really awkward.
"BUT WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'THE COSTUME STAYS ON DURING SEX'??? And what is this paper you gave me partway through!? 'Vulnerable lines to say while you're being a bottom'????? Y-..."
"Y-You know what, I-I'm not going to ask... I don't mind being like this to make you happy, but... d-well, I... thank you very much for the time, but... d-don't tell Illya about all this, oka-"
"... I feel a prescense at the door-"
HE'S NEVER ASKING FOR FAVORS FROM CHLOE AGAIN
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D20 for mela eri and Wes.
Whilst the three were playing a game of divets and dragonites Wes brings out a strange dice that had a sinster aura around it. As the three looked over they decided to use it in their game.
"No idea where this thing came from, but it's definitely old. It can probably still work for the game though." Wes hand the die over to Eri, who hesitantly rolls first for the fight.
She rolled a 6. Mela picked the die up next her roll.
it was a 9 this time. Wes was the last one to roll, and she did notice the die felt as if it was humming.
Wes got a 13. With that final number rolled, the die would start glowing brightly as the girls would feel their bodies changing. Eri and Mela would feel themselves shrinking, while Wes was growing. Mela fortunately didn't shrink for long, going down to just 3' even from her usual 4'8". Eri was less lucky, going down from her impressive 6'3" height to just a mere 2 inches.
Wes was very thankful they had chose to play at Mela's base. It made her rapid growth much less dangerous. The Rock user shot up dozens of feet every second, topping out at a staggering 150 feet tall. "Uh... okay I guess that die was hexed by a Ghost pokemon or something. you two oka-" Wes, obviously not being used to such a height, tripped and fell back. Ass first onto Mella, who in turn did the same to Eri. At least her friends were just flattened to her butt and not her feet. "I hope this wears off soon..."
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YouTube značajke
Nove značajke koje je YouTube pokrenuo za kreatore videozapisa
YouTube značajke su ne tako davno značajno proširene mogućnostima. Svi smo svjesni činjenice da se u ovoj eri stalnog razvoja tehnologije stvari ažuriraju u tren oka. Sve što je potrebno u svakodnevnom životu, od namirnica, odjeće, nekretnina, lijekova do luksuznih stvari, lako se može nabaviti putem interneta. Internet je postao jedna od najosnovnijih životnih potreba svakoga, bilo djeteta ili odrasle osobe. Internet se pokazao kao izuzetna blagodat, posebno u ovoj velikoj pandemiji. U kojoj su Google, YouTube i platforme društvenih medija postale njihovo rajsko prebivalište. Ljudi koji su izgubili posao zbog recesije ili nisu mogli ići na posao zbog globalne karantene pokrenuli su mala poduzeća online.
Postoji više platformi koje su malim i domaćim robnim markama i tvrtkama dale prilike za rast diljem svijeta. Ljudi koji nisu ni pripadali poslovnoj klasi uspjeli su nekako prokopati ovo polje i trenutno im dobro ide. YouTube je jedna takva blagodat jer je videosadržaj ono čemu većina ljudi podlegne kada im je dosadno. YouTube je oduvijek bio mjesto na kojem su ljudi mogli dobiti neograničenu zabavu i informacije. Pa, dobra vijest ovdje je da je YouTube pokrenuo 4 nove značajke za dobrobit video kreatora. Koji zarađuju za život putem YouTubea. Raspravljajmo detaljno o ovim nevjerojatnim novim značajkama kako biste ih mogli iskoristiti.Online status vaše publike - YouTube značajke
Po prvi put ikada, YouTube kreatorima daje pristup podacima koji im omogućuju da znaju kada je njihova publika online. Ovi će podaci točno odrediti u koje je sate tijekom tjedna publika kanala najaktivnija. YouTube preporučuje korištenje ovih podataka za određivanje najboljeg vremena za emitiranje prijenosa uživo. Kanali također mogu odlučiti zakazati objavljivanje videozapisa kada je većina njihove publike online.Filtrirajte neprikladne komentare
Prethodno izborna postavka za zadržavanje neprikladnih komentara za pregled sada će biti uključena prema zadanim postavkama. Ova postavka pomaže kreatorima da upravljaju velikim brojem svojih komentara i poboljšaju kvalitetu razgovora na svom kanalu. Kreatori će vidjeti poruku u YouTube studiju kada se postavka omogući za njihov kanal. Postavka je već dostupna svim kanalima i može se uključiti ili isključiti u bilo kojem trenutku. Kada je značajka "zadrži neprikladne komentare za pregled" prvi put pokrenuta, kanali s uključenom postavkom doživjeli su pad od 75% u broju označenih komentara. Tijekom protekle dvije godine otkako je značajka pokrenuta, bilo je timova koji su se usredotočili na njezino proširenje na 13 jezika, kao i na poboljšanje njezine točnosti.Zakazivanje objava u zajednici
Mogućnost zakazivanja objava u zajednici sada je dostupna u glavnoj web aplikaciji za stolna računala. Ova značajka omogućuje kreatorima da unaprijed naprave nacrte objava u zajednici i navedu budući datum objavljivanja. YouTube naglašava da sluša povratne informacije kreatora jer je ovo bila jako tražena značajka.Video poglavlja
To omogućuje kreatorima da svoje videozapise raščlane na različita poglavlja kroz koja gledatelj može skakati.
Read the full article
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((A couple more muses join the team, ready for a Grand Prix Race!))
Rosie Delaney
Age: 26
Height: 5’10"
FC: Eri Oka (Sagrada Reset)
Role: Rosie is (one of) Rory's sibling; an older sister with a gumption for racing. While her brother enjoys Hecaball for sport, Rosie takes one of her dad's cars out for a spin around the city whenever she can. Verdant likes her because she gives them treats.
Frost Erasmus
Age: 25
Height: 5’8-9"
FC: Dante (Devil May Cry)
Role: Frost was Hugo's best friend growing up. Although his family is from Solis Heights, they had moved down to Delta Town when Frost was just a wee lad, befriending Hugo fairly quickly. They practically grew up as brothers. He tries to keep things cool but can still dish it out when need-be. Also a huge fan of cars and racing. Also-also, he has a tendency of disappearing for unknown amounts of time and can show up unexpectedly.
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Program - Przedszkole Ciuchcia Puch Puch
Aktion Deutsch. Język niemiecki - podręcznik kl. Pomożesz klasa 4 język niemiecki ,. Język polski. Gramatyka i stylistyka. Język polski. Klasa 4. Podręcznik. Język polski „Jutro pójdę w świat”. Język polski „Świat w słowach i wyglądach”. Zapisano w problemie: "Moim założeniem jest montowanie drogi dla Świętej Grupy oraz gości na przywitanie Świętej Rodziny. Naprawdę, Naprawdę powiadam Wam, że teraz jesteśmy na ziemi. Istniejemy na razie normalną rodziną, na razie jesteśmy normalnymi ludźmi, aż, do jak będziemy odmłodzeni i Przemienieni. Jesteśmy częste problemy życia ziemskiego, jesteśmy nasze rodziny. Ujawnię tylko po ostatnich dniach oczyszczenia, po Sądnych Dniach, kto jest, kim, którzy są to panowie. Na poparcie obecnego istnieje mój obraz, który wydaje zapachy przepiękne, przeróżne wonie. " A wiec, z faktu reinkarnacji Swietej Rodziny! Treści uporządkowane według kręgów tematycznych (np. rodzina, szkoła, przyjaźń) oraz dobór tekstów uwzględniają tematy także twórz widzenia świata typowe dla niemowląt w tym wieku. W zeszycie znajdziemy zadania zamknięte, analizy możliwościach w strukturze tabel i wykresów, zajęcia z mapą, zadania plastyczne, literackie, zadania do druku podręcznika czy tekstów źródłowych, zadania typu prawda/fałsz, krzyżówki i inne.
W pewnym zeszycie uczeń znajdzie ćwiczenia pozwalające skończyć się do wykonywania różnych form wypowiedzi, zapozna się rozpoznawać wzięcia z nauk literatury, nauczy się z wieloma pytaniami dotyczącymi tradycje i mediów i przećwiczy zagadnienia gramatyczne i ortograficzne. Wszelkie takie wypadki będą stosowane indywidualnie z poszanowaniem godności każdego ucznia zaś jego ojców. Podręcznik. Wydawnictwo: Wydawnictwa Naukowe i Pedagogiczne, WSiP ; Kategoria: Podręczniki / Gimnazjum / klasa 1 / Wychowanie do życia w grupie; Rok wydania: 2010; Oprawa: miękka; Pakiet edukacyjny Wychowanie do bycia w rodzinie dla klas 1-3 gimnazjum zawiera: - program nauczania (zatwierdzony przez MEN do celu szkolnego pod numerem DKW-4014-296/99), - scenariusze lekcji, - trzy zeszyty ucznia. Dobrej zabawy doświadczyli nasi najmłodsi uczniowie z klas II, III, IV, jak też młodzież z grup VI i VII. Wszystkie inne usługi i ściągi, materiały drukowane lub powielane są niedozwolone, jak i mienie z telefonów, tabletów, komputerów także pozostałych urządzeń teleinformatycznych, a też porozumiewanie się z następującymi świadomościami i posiadanie z ich uwag lub prac pisemnych.
1. Dobór nauczanych struktur gramatycznych (dla uproszczenia przyjmujemy tu „tradycyjne” rozumienie gramatyki) też wymaga być przygotowany ze starannością, tak żeby szczególny nacisk został położony na takie formy, które zapewniają realizację najszerszego zakresu wymagań znanych w podstawie programowej - zwłaszcza w przypadku podstawy programowej dla języka obcego nauczanego jako nowy. Piłata jako postać niewinną ? Dzisiejsza postać książki wywodzi się od kodeksu, czyli kartek połączonych grzbietem, które wraz z biegiem pergaminu zastąpiły poprzednią formę dokumentu piśmienniczego, czyli zwój. Pewna anonimowa grupa rozpoczęła w układzie z tym kampanię, która inspirowała do wyrażanie swojego wyznania jako „rycerza Jedi” czyli członka zakonu z filmy „Gwiezdne wojny” George`a Lucasa. Pociechę, znaną wcześniej jako Jedyny Wiek. Chemia Nowej Ery. Podręcznik do chemii dla kl. Chemia Nowej Ery. Zeszyt ćwiczeń do chemii dla kl. Tajemnice BOGAtego życia. Zeszyt ćwiczeń. Nowa Era podręcznik "Tajemnice przyrody" kl. Podręcznik do plastyki dla klasy piątej szkoły podstawowej „Do wykonania! Podręcznik do plastyki dla klasy szóstej szkoły podstawowej „Do wykonania! W przypadku plastyki powiek górnych daje się, że istnieje nadwrażliwość na światło, nadmierne łzawienie lub tylko, suchość oka, a jeszcze reakcja alergiczna na znieczulenie lub infekcja rany pooperacyjnej. Początkowo ruch ten nie miał żadnej nazwy, jednak dosyć szybko muzyczne wygi zorientowały się, że dubstep się skończył, ponieważ nikt aktualnie nie chciał czuć się jak uwięziony w łodzi podwodnej marynarz, jaki korzysta atak paniki.
A to przeraziłam się, że potrafi toż ja udaję. Podręcznik, część 1 i 2, WSiP. WSIP Informacja o społeczeństwie. Współpracowała z takimi wydawnictwami jak Prószyński i S-ka, WSiP oraz Ośrodek Edukacyjny Taurus. Autorka zeszytów ćwiczeń, scenariuszy dla nauczycieli i programów do nauczania przedmiotu wychowanie do życie w rodzinie. Ważna z nich korzystać podczas lekcji oraz sam w bloku. Autorka kursów i ćwiczeń dla nauczycieli, osób pełnoletnich i starych. Matematyka z plusem 4. Podręcznik dla klasy 4 szkoły podstawowej. Matematyka z plusem 8. Podręcznik. 276, cena 35PLN; - Podręcznik Podstawy Informatyki, Maciej M. Sysła, PWN, r. Bezpłatny podręcznik OPERON "Zawieramy się z Bratkiem". OPERON Geografia. Ciekawi świata kl. klik zeszyt ćwiczeń kl. Beata Surdej, Andrzej Zeszyt lekturowy. 1 Liceum, zakres oryginalny oraz rozszerzony, Zrozumieć tekst - rozumieć człowieka. 2 Liceum, zakres pierwszy oraz rozszerzony, Zrozumieć tekst - rozumieć człowieka. ZROZUMIEĆ TEKST - ZROZUMIEĆ CZŁOWIEKA. Matematyka z wynikiem. Program nauczania matematyki w nauce podstawowej.
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Czy Dokonali To Ludzie, Kler, Inteligencja?
Róża Niepołomska nie odpowiedziała. Róża spojrzała ociężale. Płomień szczególnej namiętności błysnął w jej oczach. Domyśliłam się. sprawdzian pani tutaj weszła i popatrzyła na mnie, pomyślałam sobie natychmiast, iż to obecnie panią zgubił mój nieposkromiony małżonek. Rozważając aplikację na ostatni dziś kierunek, powinieneś stanowić zbudowany na szeroką naukę przedmiotów ścisłych uznawanych powszechnie za największe. Pani Niepołomska była bez ruchu. Pani Niepołomska przez chwilę cierpliwie i uprzejmie wyglądała na nazwisko Ewy, natomiast nie potrafiąc się doczekać, z jedną stylową oziębłością określiła jej ręką niski fotel w sposobie pokoju. By móc zareagować na te wydarzenia, należy zwrócić obraz człowieka, pewną jego, kilka czy bardziej abstrakcyjną wizję. Sam teledysk powtarza się być minimalistyczny, film jest dodatkiem do utworu muzycznego, nie zwraca uwagi od piosenki, a zawsze na pewne zapada w świadomości. Jednak z upadkiem rzymskiej Britannii przyszedł i upadek miasta. Ale i nie traci poprzez ostatnie prawd chleba i wina, a więc może również ulegać wpływom bakterii.
Nic! Przez mgnienie oka myślała o tym, że obecnie przyjdzie zstępować po ciemnych schodach, że się będzie wlokła ulicą, wróci do domu - tak toż nieszczęsna, tak toż zdeptana i podarta na strzępy. Na frontu Nowej Ery Edainowie założyli na przyjętej za zasługi wyspie Númenor królestwo a poprzez kilka wieków nie mieli związku z znajomymi z kontynentu. Stała przed nią kobieta jeszcze mała i wcale ładna. Później spostrzegł, że dosyć. Dawniej (a konkretnie przed wejściem euro) w barach w Hiszpanii, kiedy zamawiało się jakiś alkohol, zawsze przyjmowało się małą ilości czegoś do spożycia, niestety wraz ze wzrostem cen zwyczaj ten zatrzymał się w niemało miejscach i na widać nie w turystycznych. Dzieje króla północy nie oddały się wraz ze śmiercią Aureliana. Nie dowiedziałam się, czego pani właściwie życzy sobie ze mnie? Właściwie jest. Czego sobie pani życzy? Wcale nie dawał po sobie nic poznać, był słaby, szczęśliwy i spokojny. Dopiero później przypomniałam sobie.
Buduje się go po to, aby zmylić przeciwnika i wypracować sobie jako dużo przystępną pozycję do obrazu na bramkę, wykonania dania lub by rozwiązań na popularność, która stanowi aktywna i kupić piłkę. Byłaby tę gęsią, gdy jej powiedziała wszystko o sobie. Ewa czuła dobrze, że należało postawić się, i uważała ponad tym, co ma robić. Wiem… - rzekła Ewa z lekkim uśmiechem. Róża z uśmiechem nader dziwnym dla Ewy. Wyrzekłszy te słowa, Róża po namyśle wstała oraz z wdziękiem wyciągnęła z szuflady starożytnego biureczka dziwnie piękny safianowy portfel, w jakiego sposobie była oprawiona fotografia Łukasza z lat poprzednich. Ta wprawdzie była genialna w terminie odbudowy od IV ligi. Wypadają jednak głosy popierające PPR. Była to mała (nieco za mała) szatynka z liniami nadzwyczaj regularnymi, które jednak wkraczały w granice zbytniej ostrości. Broda jej oparta istniała na rąk, łokieć ręki na poręczy fotela. A osoba jednak była obecnie najbliższą jego sercu… Pani nazwisko - to Pobratyńska. Nie przepada pani Łukasza?
Rzucić tę zasadę pod nogi żonie Łukasza i uwzględnić ją do poziomu drżenia, do poziomu rozpaczliwej niemocy, zrównać jej poziom ze własnym. Chciała mieć z aktualnego okresu rozdrażnienia i wprowadziła zwiększyć go do wielkości. Gdy planujesz kłopoty z przeglądarką Opera, potrafi istnieć obowiązkowe przywrócenie przeglądarki do poziomu domyślnego. Uczniowie często prowokują, wymyślają sztuczne problemy - dodaje ks. Uczniowie idą w pewien (śmieszny) sposób po sali podczas trwania muzyki. Bardzo interesujące, mądre, szerokie czoło miękko i dobrze otaczały włosy rozczesane w środek oryginalny, a jakby z umyślnym sięganiem do postarzenia twarzy. Już więc nie wpływa na mój spokój ani na zabieg świadczenia o nim. Może pani teraz łatwiej zorientuje się, iż nie mogę odpowiedzieć na badanie, czy go kocham. Kiedy była nacisnąć krążek dzwonka, zastanowiła się, co ona tutaj robi, po co tu idzie. Jak mię chciał rzucić na ziemię, broniłam się zapamiętale. Konkurowała spośród nim wolny wyboru broni, i toż w współczesnym przedmiotu, żeby mię lubiłeś jak wtedy, kiedy istniała jego narzeczoną.
Wyznać, kim się jest - to działać otwarcie, bez obmierzłych wykrętów i ohydnego milczenia. Oczy Róży były niewymuszone i prawe bez możliwości. W rzeczywistości liczne otaczające nas problemy nie powstałyby bez rozwoju fizyki i innych dziedzin fizycznych i technicznych. Jego działania z obecnej tematyki to "Układ polityczny Aten" oraz "Polityka". Maturzysta powinien znać różnorodne formy pisemne: list nieformalny, formalny, artykuły o dniu powszednim, sporcie, hobby, internecie i innych zjawiskach codziennego świata. Dodatkową zaletą kursów indywidualnych stanowi to, że kursant decyduje, gdy będą przeprowadzać się zajęcia także jako powszechnie - czyli obowiązuje pełna swoboda co do ich formy. Uczuła się jak naga na placu. Byłam pracownikiem dla samego siebie istniejącym, jak kwiat. Musiał pani mówić, bo lubi o mnie mówić źle, jak najgorzej. Publikacja łagodnie stosuje w świat programowania, istnieje w sumy dostosowana również do dyspozycji percepcyjnych ucznia, kiedy a do potrzeb nauczyciela.Informatyka inspiruje dzieci do samodzielnej działalności i ułatwia im wziąć kompetencje obowiązujące w skomputeryzowanym świecie. Tak, mówił mi o pani. Tak, niegdyś - mówiła - tworzyła a ja chwile szczęścia. W ramach praktyki prywatnej prowadzi zajęcia indywidualne i społeczne z Technologie Alexandra. Już go właścicielki nie kocha?
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Czy Spowodowali To Obywatele, Kler, Inteligencja?
Jean-Claude Hollerich. Arcybiskup Luksemburga doskonale zna Japonię, bo pracował tam przez 17 lat jako jezuicki misjonarz. Kiedy szybko informowaliśmy, po tym, jak epidemia tyfusu w związku Auschwitz została praktycznie ograniczona w listopadzie i grudniu, nastąpił nowy wzrost liczby przypadków tyfusu wśród więźniów Auschwitz, a dodatkowo wśród żołnierzy, przywiezionych przez nowo przybyłe transporty ze Wschodu. Informatyka inżynierska - Student kierunku informatyka inżynierska zdobywa dobre przygotowanie teoretyczne, obejmujące niezmienny w toku i teraz niezbędny kanon podstaw informatyki, obejmujący zarówno jej przyczyny teoretyczne jak i techniczne. Ułatwia przygotowanie do egzaminów dzięki Podsumowaniom i Tablicom chronologicznym. Religia ta pojawiła się w Japonii w szesnastym stuleciu, dzięki misjonarzom turyście z Portugalii. Buddyzm pojawił się w Japonii w szóstym stuleciu, dokąd przybył z Chin i Korei. W Japonii stają przede wszystkim miłośniku sintoizmu i buddyzmu. Jeżeli ale na trasie pojawi się podobna sekcja, oznacza zatem przede wszystkim jedno - należy wziąć spokój. Przede każdym jednak należałoby o to, żeby poprowadzić dialog między gatunkami.
Hollerich. - Moi studenci bardzo nie byli katolikami, a kiedy się bliżej poznaliśmy, pojawiały się proszenia o wiarę, o to, dlaczego przyszedł do Japonii, dlaczego się nie ożeniłem? Wielu będzie poszukiwało reakcji na te badania w słowach Papieża - mówi kard. I dużo młodych stawia dbania o wiarę. Stawał się te podstawowym językiem świata technologii, sklepu oraz wielu nowych rzeczy, ułatwiając komunikację ekspertów z całego świata. Naczelna zasada przyrządzania dań po japońsku mówi, że nie należy mieszać ze sobą zbyt wielu czynników. Wymiany walut można robić więcej w kantorach usytuowanych przy punktach pocztowych. Przy wymianie pieniędzy trzeba okazać paszport. Teologicznie czas ten znaczy oczekiwanie Kościoła na podwójne przyjście Chrystusa. Na przyszły rok akademicki zaplanowano 5500 stypendiów dla mołdawskich licealistów i studentów, którzy zawierają pomysł podjąć lub kontynuować wiedzę w Rumunii - wynika to więcej kandydatów posiadających podwójne obywatelstwo, o ile ich znaczenie zamieszkania wydobywa się poza Rumunią (źródło: informacja MSZ Rumunii). Dotyczy to najbardziej Tokio. W samych muzeach sprzętu nie wolno nawet wyciągnąć, w tamtych przepis dotyczy określonej ekspozycji, natomiast w również innych ważna pstrykać do woli. Dotyczy to całkowicie wydziału matinf, ogólnie na UJcie wiem, że bywa fatalnie. We każdych miastach uważają się duże sklepy, w jakich pozwalamy dosłownie wszystko.
Kupujemy w nich całkowicie sporo wartościowych artykułów w znacznie obniżonych cenach. Maleje liczba katolików na wsi, a rośnie w całych miastach. “ Wciąż zdarzają się nawrócenia, zwłaszcza w centrach. “ Większość Japończyków nie chodzi do żadnej religii albo zapomnieli, do której religii należą. Jak spędzacie większość wolnego czasu? Nastały nowe ery jak np. barok czy gotyk. Choroba ta odczuwalna jest szczególnie podczas stosunku, zarówno u kobiety, kiedy a u partnera. Kto się zatrzyma - skamienieje, kto przystanie, zostanie przyszpilony jak owad, jego serce przebije drewniana igła, jego ręce i stopy będą przedziurawione i przybite do progu i powały. Ludzie wolą jednak wiedzieć, jak istnieć a kiedy być zadowolonym, na czym liczy ich przyczynę. Przed północą idzie się najpierw do świątyni buddyjskiej, aby usłyszeć, jak bije dzwon, i potem do świątyni sintoistycznej. Oczko - zawiń na drucie luźną spiralę , sklej ją również uszczypnij z dwóch przeciwległych stron, tak aby powstał kształt oka. Ale przed 1203 we Wrocławiu powstał samodzielny kahał (gmina żydowska) z synagogą i cmentarzem. Jakoś się już zadomowiliśmy w Japonii dodatkowo jesteśmy chronieni - podaje były jezuicki misjonarz. Wyznania religijne w Japonii. Akihito jest 125 cesarzem Japonii.
W wszystkiej Japonii stanowi ich 125 milionów. Waluta Japonii. W Japonii płacimy jenami (w planie jpy). Zajmuje on, że w Japonii wciąż szanuje się wartości tradycyjne, wysoce niż w Europie, ale jednocześnie a wtedy uległo osłabieniu, jeśli porówna się sytuację sprzed 30 czy nawet 20 lat. Władysław Gomułka i Edward Ochab stanowczo oświadczyli Chruszczowowi, iż są w stopniu opanować kondycję natomiast nie zbliżyć do zmian mogących łączyć w sztukę systemu. NASZ PRACOWNIK NA ICH TREŚCI WPROWADZI INFORMACJE DO SYSTEMU! Jeśli ktoś o wielkim guście i małej mocy socjologicznej znajduje się z niedocenianiem jego poziomu (ze strony kogoś, komu wydaje się nieprawdopodobne, żeby osobnik o słabej mocy socjologicznej mógł korzystać piękny poziom(, to wobec małej mocy socjologicznej potrzebuje on poprzestać na stanowisku swojej bezsilności wobec Uczucia ambicjonalne objawiają się w takich sukcesach jako uczucie upokorzenia (tab. wypracowanie - aż po odpadły od Rzeczypospolitej już w wieku XVII Witebsk, Smoleńsk czy Czernichów, stanowiła nie tyle kwestią umiłowania małej ojczyzny, co politycznym programem Polski wielkiej, Polski mocarstwowej.
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My excuse for playing hooky.
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Story#22 || BOY, GIRL and the STORY of SAGRADA 3/5
Asai Kei and Oka Eri who was acting in part of Urachi Masamune’s plan, meet. Kei was completed defeated by Eri. Kei leads Oka Eri to where Haruki Misora and the others are waiting. Ukawa Sasane was also waiting there. Urachi makes contact with them there. Kei tells Urachi about what he’s realised and thought.
Script: 高山カツヒコ
Storyboard: 吉田泰三
Director: 藤本ジ朗
Animation Director: 斎藤大輔/CHA MYONG JUN/今岡大/もろゆき沙羅/佐藤このみ
#sagrada reset#sakurada reset#asai kei#urachi masamune#oka eri#haruki misora#ukawa sasane#nakano tomoki#tsushima shintaro
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Witch, Picture, and Red-Eyed Girl (Sagrada Reset 2) - Chapter 3: The nameless woman (part 1)
[INDEX]
Sasano Hiroyuki woke up late at night.
A lukewarm breeze blew from his screened window. The thin moon outside made the aged cherry tree look like a shadow.
A strange sensation occupied his heart. A light agony similar to grief, which would melt and deflate as quickly as it would rise.
Trying to figure out the cause, he remembered an old dream.
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A dream of a dear past.
It was before the abilities existed in Sakurada, and consequently, before the Bureau formed, so she was with him. A dream from before they could ever imagine that they would be separated for almost 30 years. At this point, this memory was so old that it felt like an unrealistic story from mythological times.
Sasano and her were distant relatives. She and her parents often visited Sasano's house since the two were kids. And she grew old enough to go out alone, her visits became even more frequent.
She was only one year younger than Sasano.
Their parents always made them play together, but Sasano didn't know how to interact with a girl one year younger than him. So every single time, he would read her fairytales. The girl loved stories. She preferred listening to others telling them than reading herself. So, even after she grew up, she would still nag Sasano to tell her stories.
One fateful spring day, Sasano was 13 and she was 12. Sasano saw her crouched in the garden and approached her.
The cherry blossoms were in full bloom above her head. Countless flowers bloomed in proud rose-tinted white. There was a soft and gentle glow to them. But her eyes looked away from their grace. She was crouched, watching her own feet.
The young Sasano was captivated by her profile. Her face was serious beyond her years. Vestiges of tears remained on the edges of her eyes. But her face didn't seem like a crying face. He could feel a strong will in her expression.
"What are you doing?", Sasano called her.
The crouched girl looked at him and forced a smile.
"I was looking at the cherry blossoms."
"The cherry blossoms?"
They were above her.
"You can't do that by looking at the ground."
"I guess so.", she said. "I was looking up the tree at first. The cherry tree gets really pretty with this many flowers."
Sasano agreed. Cherry blossoms are beautiful.
"But then the wind blew. The many petals dancing in the air were even prettier."
Sasano agreed again. Cherry blossoms dancing in the wind are beautiful.
"I felt really good watching the petals twirl. Then they hit the ground and that's when I realized."
The smile and tears on her face were beautiful.
Her expression quickly seeped into the bottom of his heart.
"I was stepping all over the petals of the same cherry blossoms I was admiring. I was caught by the beauty of the thing I was trampling."
"Does that make you feel sad?"
"I don't know. 'Sad' is probably too strong of a word. But I teared up a little."
She picked up a petal next to her feet. When did it fall? The petal was withered and its borders had turned brown.
"Do you think this one is also pretty?"
He knew his answer before the question was over.
After some deliberation on whether or not he should lie, Sasano sincerely shook his head.
"No. I don't."
She held the petal in her hand close to her chest.
"Me either. That's probably why I felt like crying."
He honestly didn't understand. He couldn't grasp what the problem was. That was just how cherry blossoms were. They have one short moment of beauty, and then they become litter no one spares their attention to.
But with how serious her expression was, Sasano had to say it.
"You don't have to back your tears if you really feel like crying."
She stood up, looked at him, and nodded.
"Yeah. Thanks."
After a soft smile under the cherry tree, she cried her heart out. Her tears were pretty. So pure that their beauty hit him before the sadness could.
It has been 50 years since that day, but he could still remember it clearly.
Sasano fell in love with those tears.
Even now he couldn't think of anything more lovely than the tearful smile he saw 50 years prior.
"You know, these petals become soil.", told the 13-year-old Sasano to the 12-year-old girl. "The tree absorbs their nutrients to make more flowers next year."
He wanted to say something to make her feel better. It didn't matter how trite or awkward it would be.
"It's not the end for these petals. Next year, we'll see them again and that time we'll find them pretty."
She wiped the trails of her tears.
"Will the blossom next year really be the same as these ones?"
Sasano nodded.
"Yeah, why wouldn't they?"
Her eyes once again dropped to the wilted petal in her hand.
"Hey, tell me a story."
"What's kind?"
"One about people promising to meet again and actually managing to do so."
"Gotcha."
Sasano didn't know any story like this, but he needed to tell one. He started narrating with no plans for how the plot would progress later.
"There was a witch."
"A good or a bad witch?"
"A good witch. But everyone thought she was bad."
Sasano clunkily weaved his narrative.
In the story, the witch flew on her broom to be able to fulfill her promise of seeing her lover again.
It was an unexisting, untitled story crafted only for her. It was a terrible story, full of plot holes and chronologically all over the place. But she carefully watched Sasano doing everything he could to compose it. After several hardships, the witch finally knocked on her lover's window. They didn't know what happened after that. It was a poorly wrapped-up story that just promised a happy ending and stopped right there.
But,
"That was great.", she smiled. That's all that mattered.
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This was a story from 50 years in the past.
50 years passed and his feelings for her remained always close to his heart.
A decade after that, Sakurada's mysterious abilities were born. And she gained an extremely powerful ability. It became harder and harder to see her, so he gained the ability to immerse himself in the past.
Another decade later, she was confined to a small room. She abandoned her name to become only a system. She had to swear not to interact with anyone. She had to do it in order to establish the Bureau and Sakurada.
Three decades (more exactly 28 years) ago, she said goodbye to Sasano under the cherry tree. With a promise to meet again, the two decided to spend 28 years separate.
28 years. That's the time it took for her to become unusable to the Bureau. For all these 28 years, the two of them knew the date of her death. They promised to see each other again and be together for the last week of her life.
In the sultry summer weather, Sasano looked outside his window. The aged tree could no longer bloom in spring.
The thin moon slowly set.
The next time it rises, the two will be together.
August 9th (Wednesday) - The second try
At 09:30, Kei was deep in thought on his bed.
The last August 9th was 3 days ago from Kei's perspective. Only 3 days. So much happened in this short amount of time that it felt like it took a lot longer.
Two major events happened in the pre-Reset August 9th.
The first is that Sasano called asking for the MacGuffin. Kei left his house soon after his call.
The other was a call from Tsushima. He informed Kei that the witch was calling him. He had to meet her the next day, on August 10th.
(But Sasano and the witch aren't trustworthy. I still don't know about the witch, but Sasano proved himself a liar. He wasn't after the MacGuffin at first.)
An absurd rumor told that whoever possesses the MacGuffin can control every ability in Sakurada. Sasano claimed he wanted the MacGuffin to retrieve his ability to enter photos.
But that wasn't true. The moment the picture is taken, his ability already did everything it had to. Anyone can rip the photos. That part doesn't require the ability. He is still able to enter the photos even with his ability sealed.
(Then what is he trying to accomplish? Why did he call me? It can't be that he actually just wants the MacGuffin, can it? It can't. When we talked pre-Reset, he wasn't any insistent about the MacGuffin.)
Kei couldn't find the answer with the information currently at hand. He sighed and got up from the bed.
Pre-Reset Sasano called him at 10:15. Kei decided to have breakfast before that happened.
He washed his face and headed to the kitchen. There were no usable ingredients in his fridge. It rarely ever did. He had a bottle of iced coffee, one of mineral water, a carton of milk, a few condiments, one slice of bread, and a bit of lettuce. Most of it was in the door pockets. Looking at the empty core compartment was saddening.
He thought he needed to start cooking on a more regular basis but was too lazy to ever start working on it. He still hadn't ever used the rice cooker he got when he started living alone. Kei was a fundamentally lazy person and aware of it. The only reason why his apartment isn't a littered mess was that he didn't own enough things to litter it with.
Kei took out the bread, the lettuce, and the milk. He put the bread in the toaster and sloppily washed the lettuce. He found a can of oiled sardines under the sink. He picked it up and pulled the lid. He seasoned it with whatever he could find: salt, pepper, and mayonnaise.
Kei didn't sit down to eat. He believed that was the second best strategy to have fewer dishes to wash. The first was simply not eating at home. The chime rang while he was brushing his teeth. He quickly wiped his mouth and ran to the entrance.
During these few steps, he thought about how no one came to his house in the pre-Reset version of this hour. Something changed. His actions before and after the Reset were too different and that had unintended side effects.
The man at Kei's door was a mailman. After a three sentences long conversation, Kei signed the delivery and received a small parcel.
After closing and locking his door, he checked the envelope. It was small and thin. It could fit two pocket paperback books at best. It didn't have the sender's name.
He opened the wrapping. It contained a small album. He flipped the cover.
The first page contained a photo he saw in Sasano's house pre-Reset. It was a picture of a cherry tree in full bloom. Taken with a polaroid.
(Why? How? Did Sasano send this? Why would he? Not even why would he send the photos to me. Why would he act differently from how he did before the Reset? What did I do to change Sasano's movements?)
With these questions in mind, he flipped the page.
The second page took his breath away.
It had a photo of the river bank during the sunset. A picture with a beautiful contrast of black and orange. There were tetrapods by the bank. And atop those tetrapods stood a girl, looking tiny in the picture.
(Why? This is so sudden. I'm getting dizzy. Why did the photo I was after just flew to my lap like that? Two years after her death, she's here in this photo. If I rip this photo, I can see her... Or at least someone identical to her. Is this real? It's so hard to believe.)
Kei closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Then he flipped the album's page. The third page was the only one to contain a photo Kei didn't see in Sasano's house. It was quite old but he understood what it was at first glance. A beautiful black-haired woman standing on the shore. Probably in her thirties. The woman seemed familiar. He never saw her looking like this but he could tell who it was.
Kei took deep breaths again and sorted out the pieces of the puzzle.
Sasano was a member of the Bureau's initial roster. Someone in the Bureau saw his photos as a threat. That's why Oka Eri sealed his power. The picture in Kei's hand was the reason why. This photograph couldn't be allowed to exist. By ripping this picture, anyone could see her and talk about anything for 10 minutes.
It was a photo of the witch.
The witch. The nameless woman. A system composing the Bureau. She had the best ability in Sakurada. This is what she looked like decades ago.
Sasano is connected to the witch.
This one photo had a note attached to it.
'Come see me immediately. The other two pictures are a present.'
Kei shoved his wallet and phone down his pocket and left his house.
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He couldn't clearly recognize the pictured portion of the shore.
It was an old photo. The current scenery might look different from the image. But a tiny lighthouse was visible in the distance. A white lighthouse. Where he was with Oka Eri the previous day. He could roughly infer the location by its position.
Kei took the bus to Nanasaka Middle School. His phone didn't ring. Neither Sasano nor the witch were calling him. They both knew he was instead going to meet the past version of the witch. To learn something more concrete.
ーCome see me immediately.
He didn't know how intensely she meant the word "immediately", but when in doubt, it's better to hurry.
He heard the sound of the waves, and soon after he saw the shore.
Sasano's ability only works if the photo is ripped within the pictured area. He couldn't afford to be in the wrong place. He compared the position of the real lighthouse to the lighthouse in the photo. He was still too close to it. Kei ran further up the coastal street.
The sun shined brightly. Kei wished it were cloudier but he knew the weather would stay like this until at least the next afternoon.
After some more running, he looked behind again. The lighthouse was significantly smaller. About the same size as the one in the photo. Kei found stairs to the beach and descended there.
He hadn't felt the soft sand under his feet for a long time. The beach was full of people enjoying the water. A red beach ball bounced on the waves.
After stopping to take a deep breath, Kei compared his view to the photo one last time. The shape of the shore, the placement of the rocks, and the distance to the lighthouse. Not everything matched perfectly, but it was close enough.
That was absolutely the place.
He put strength to his fingertips and ripped the photograph.
His sight was recolored white.
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Light resembling a camera's flash chipped away the crowded background. The sound of the waves was the only thing that retained its steady rhythm.
The temperature rapidly decreased. He shivered with the cold. When Kei opened his eyes, he was at a triangular cut of the beach surrounded by white space. It was that beach from an unknown year decades ago in an unknown season that wasn't summer. Cold air filled his hot lungs.
Kei looked around him. He found a black-haired woman 5 meters before the edge of the tide. She was turned away, but after a few steps in her direction, she looked at him.
The witch, about 30 years younger.
Seeing her face this close, she didn't look like the woman he met in one room of a building. This wasn't about her clothes or the amount of gray hair. Something essential was different.
Her face lacked the artificial smile. Her very natural expression showed a hint of surprise. This expression was one of the things she lost in the past 30 years.
"Are you... Asai... Kei?", she opened the conversation.
"I am."
(What an amazing ability future sight is. This young, she already knew about me. I'm not even born yet.)
"I came here with Sasano's ability."
"Why?"
(Why?)
"I'm pretty sure you called me."
"I haven't seen this future.", the witch denied.
She closed her eyes for a moment.
Then she slowly opened them. Her eyes were intense.
"So I betrayed myself."
(What's that supposed to mean? The witch will betray the witch 30 years down the line? Why? Actually, what is this betrayal even about?)
"I'm completely out of the loop. Please tell me what's going on."
(If my visiting the photo wasn't part of her plan, then what future could have she seen?)
The young witch lowered her gaze to her feet.
"Another version of me from a different photo must have arranged for you to come here. Most likely in order to disrupt my plan."
"Your plan?"
"Yes. I'm trying to reach one specific future.", she told with a quiet, whispery voice. "I'm about to spend 28 years confined by the Bureau. That's the time it will take for me to die. I accepted that I'll be just a part of the Bureau's systems until the last few days of my life. But I plan to be myself again only for the last week."
"You mean leaving the room in the building?"
"I'll go meet someone. I want to see him again.", she confirmed.
"Would that be Sasano?"
"Yes. I want to be with him, at least when I die. Can you blame me? I can't picture myself withstanding 28 whole years of hopeless solitude. Am I being too selfish here?"
Kei shook his head.
"Absolutely not. I'm actually surprised at how little you're asking for."
(With the absolute power of future sight, she could picture a happier future. No, ability or no ability, it's absurd that she's only asking for a week out of the remaining decades she still has.)
With a subdued smile, she thanked him.
"We parted ways with a promise to meet again. But the Bureau wouldn't let me free even for a week. So, sorry, I decided to use you two."
"Me and who?"
"You and a girl named Oka Eri."
(Oka Eri. Wasn't expecting to hear her name here? How is she connected?)
"That Oka Eri girl wants an ability more powerful than yours... Than Haruki Misora's Reset you use. So she's coming to steal Future Sight.", said the witch from 30 years in the past.
(Steal the witch, that is. Makes sense that Oka Eri is interested in the witch. I know she'll want this ability because I would have wanted it two years ago.)
The witch from 30 years in the past hung her head down in shame.
"And then I'll escape that building by Oka Eri's hand."
"Can she do it? Take you away?"
"Yes. My future sight guarantees her success. Because the only pillar of my security is the man with the ability to lock anything he touches. If she makes him her ally for a few minutes, the door will open."
"Your security is pretty lacking."
"It was a lot tighter for the majority of my 28 years there. It only changed for this last stretch. The Bureau needs all of its forces to handle the upcoming problems. They don't have the personnel available to watch over the husk of a system no longer in use."
(A problem that requires all of the Bureau's forces? I can only imagine one possibility.)
"They'll lose you, the person guaranteeing Sakurada's future. The Bureau is desperate to fill the hole to be left by your passing, is that what you're saying?"
She nodded.
"The Bureau will face major changes around the time I die. That's my best chance to escape. I'm sure I'll be taking this chance in your reality."
Kei remembered the witch's building.
A tiny, aged, and unpopulated building. The person with the best ability in Sakurada deserved better. The Bureau judged that was good enough. Because there was no real need to protect the witch. Because the person who can see the future will obviously be the first to detect any incoming threats. The only possible exception to this is the witch turning against the Bureau. That's why their watchful eyes look inside instead of outside.
The witch continued.
"But just waiting Oka Eri wasn't enough. By the time she's determined to take me, I'm already too debilitated to walk. I can't meet him again in that state."
She returned her gaze to Kei.
It looked like she was crying, but her eyes were dry.
"So I needed to make her come to the building earlier. It was easy. All I needed to do was adjust the timing of her encounter with you. Oka Eri only gains the resolve to take me away once she's aware that she can't defeat you."
(I understand now. Sasano didn't call me for the MacGuffin. He didn't care about having his ability back. I wasn't called to that building because she needed to check my future.)
Without meeting Sasano, Kei wouldn't know anything about Oka Eri's current state. Without being called by the witch, he wouldn't meet Oka Eri in front of her building. Everything followed a predicted script. Last night, Kei gave Oka Eri the last push she needed, as the script told him to.
(The ability to know the future is way too powerful. It controls the future in such an indirect and roundabout way that it makes it all look like a series of coincidences.)
"Oka Eri will appear before me on August 9th, 21:18.", said the witch.
With all the dots finally connected, Kei nodded.
"And telling me that is how you betray yourself, right?"
Kei had no way of making any move if she didn't tell him everything. He would never have imagined that Oka Eri was after the witch. He didn't even think she knew about the witch.
But her words now most certainly changed the future. She put a huge crack in her own plan. Kei was now able to stop Oka Eri in her tracks.
The witch slowly closed her eyes.
"I don't know anything about Oka Eri's future. I was afraid to check. The Bureau won't be merciful to her if she takes me out. And only tragic fates await those who defy the Bureau in Sakurada."
And knowing all that she chose to use Oka Eri, just to escape the Bureau for a single week. To see her lover again, she premeditately made a random girl into her stepping stool. A flurry of emotions swirled in Kei's heart. He sighed in an attempt to pretend he was fine. He can't tell if the witch is right or wrong. He can't even imagine what it feels like to live as a nameless system. Isolated, confined, and alone for the rest of her life.
All Kei could do was humbly lower his head.
"Thank you for telling me everything."
The witch smiled.
"I did it because this all has nothing to do with me."
It was a sad smile. A face twisted for the purpose of holding tears back.
"Because I'm not the version of me who will see him again."
The woman in the photo was a Swampman who became aware she was a fake. She's an identical stranger to the real version of her.
The one who will leave the building and reunite with her lover isn't her. It will be a real witch similar to the woman from the photo.
(She betrayed herself.)
The witch's Swampman ruined the witch's 30-year-long plan.
"I probably just wasn't able to bear the guilt. It's hard to hold on to something that's ultimately someone else's problem.", sadly spoke the witch.
Kei internally disagreed.
(No. You wouldn't have this sad smile on your face if you really thought this was not your problem. You wouldn't need to try so hard to hold the tears back.)
When Kei tried to open his mouth, his vision was buried in pure white light. He could no longer see her. Sasano's ability only lasted 10 minutes. He was out of time.
"Goodbye.", she said.
That was her last word.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sound of the waves had a fixed rhythm.
It was getting crowded around him again. The world regained the summer warmth. A red beachball rode the waves of the sea.
Kei was taken back to the real world. No traces of the illusion of the past left.
He looked at his feet. The beach was pristine, with no footprints.
He crouched and closed his eyes.
A woman gained and lost her life in a span of 10 minutes.
She vanished with the sad smile of someone trying to hold back tears.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The nameless woman was in a room of a building. As usual, she was silently surrounded by books in a silent room with a door that couldn't be knocked.
She put her hand to her chest and closed her eyes. To verify which future was set in stone.
She saw a future she had already seen thousands of times.
A future where her door would be opened that night. The door would be opened by a large man in a black suit. But a red-eyed girl would appear before him. A girl with ripped jeans and a cross choker.
She'll have a daring smile.
“Sup. I’m here to steal you.”
She could hear footsteps coming from further down the hallway. Her room was being watched. Someone would notice the irregularity. Two more black-suited men appear. One apprehends the girl and the other pushes the nameless woman away from the door and closes it.
But their abilities are no match to Oka Eri's. The man with his memories already manipulated by Oka Eri can stop the other man with one touch. Give the frozen man 5 seconds of eye contact with Oka Eri and his threat is also neutralized.
(Such lousy security. Shows how much I became worthless to the Bureau. The Bureau abandoned me.)
This didn't sadden her. The Bureau was chronically understaffed. For as much as they had the power to do pretty much anything by regulating all abilities and employing the best one for every situation, they couldn't find spare hands to stabilize the security of the waste they discarded. The Bureau was a twisted organization. She wouldn't be able to leave if they weren't.
Her future self focused her ears on the door's direction. She was waiting for the moment Oka Eri would open the door with bizarre laughter and a grumble about how anti-climatic this was. She was waiting for the future set in stone. What's guaranteed to occur.
It was what was supposed to happen.
And yet.
The vision of the future produced someone else's voice.
"Stop right there, Oka Eri."
The calm and somewhat cold voice of a young boy.
(Asai Kei. Why? He couldn't be here. I've never seen this future before.)
"I'm here to stop you."
(What's going on? No one can change the future. Because all attempts to change the future are part of the future I receive. Did he learn about the future with a Reset? No, Reset usages are also set in stone. That ability can't truly change the future. People with the ability to know the future are simply the only ones who can change it.)
In other words, someone with the same ability as her.
Discounting her past selves, there was one more person with the ability to see the future. But that person was no longer living in Sakurada. At least as far as the witch knows. The last time the future changed without the witch's intervention was two years ago. It hadn't occurred again ever since.
She could only think of one person capable of changing the future at this precise moment.
(Someone identical to me in some photograph changed the future. She told Asai Kei something he wasn't supposed to know.)
The nameless woman understood everything.
The 30-year-long escape and reencounter plan failed.
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Aizawa Shōta x Reader
"Usłyszał w oddali przeciągły dźwięk konchy.
Wiedział, że powinien pamiętać jej twarz, jej zapach, jej dotyk, jej głos...
Powinien kogoś pamiętać...
Powinien coś pamiętać...
Pieśń morza skutecznie zagłuszyła pytania. Nie myślał. Nie czuł. Nie było czasu. Po prostu istniał.
Obmywał czyjeś stopy. Zbierał czyjeś łzy. Nie wiedział czyje, bo morze przecież nie czuje..."
Praca znajduje się też na Wattpadzie (ten sam nick).
Beta: Dusigrosz
Informacje dodatkowe:
1. Jest to Fantasy AU, czerpiące inspirację z Małej Syrenki, dlatego postacie nie używają honoryfikat.
— Poddaj się! — [Reader] pewnie wyciągnęła przed siebie sztylet.
Jej mała przyjaciółka — Eri — leżała przerażona na piasku. Została złapana w sieć. Strach obezwładnił ją do reszty. Nie próbowała nawet wyplątać się spomiędzy splotów mocnej liny. Ogon tkwił nieruchomo.
Mężczyzna o stalowoszarych włosach stał z rękami uniesionymi do góry. Dziewczyna domyśliła się, że był piratem. Nosił znak Ośmiu Wskazań Śmierci. Wiedziała, że należy na niego uważać. Nie była jednak przygotowana na nagły ironiczny uśmieszek z jego strony.
Ostry ból z tyłu głowy pojawił się nagle. Zanim straciła przytomność, zdążyła jeszcze kątem oka dostrzec postać w fioletowym futrze.
Chisaki popatrzył na leżącą dziewczyną z odrazą. Nie planował wciągać nikogo więcej do swoich planów. Szczerze wolał pozbyć się niespodziewanego gościa. Po reakcji małej syrenki zorientował się jednak, że utrzymanie zakładniczki przy życiu może znacznie ułatwić sprawę.
Ludzie od zawsze wydawali mu się brudni. Nienawidził tego. Teraz rękojeść jego ulubionej szabli nosiła ślady cudzej krwi. Wiedział, że spędzi wieczór, czyszcząc ją dokładnie. Uderzenie odwrotną stroną broni sprawiło też, że skaleczył sobie dłoń. Chciał zabandażować to jak najszybciej.
— Chrono, zabierz je obie do jaskini. Nie zapomnij przeszukać. Wracam na statek. Przyślę ci kogoś do pomocy. Jak się obudzi, to daj znać.
***
[Reader] nie miała ochoty otwierać oczu. Leżało jej się całkiem wygodnie. Szum fal działał na nią usypiająco. Czuła się zupełnie jak w swoim pokoju. Dopiero, gdy ciemność zastąpiła zmartwiona twarz Eri, zorientowała się, że coś jest nie tak.
Syrenka toczyła drobne, okrągłe, jasno lśniące łzy. Dziewczyna nigdy w życiu nie wiedziała, że można pięknie płakać. Aż do dzisiaj. Nie był to pierwszy raz w tej relacji, kiedy się czemuś dziwiła. Dziwna przyjaźń łącząca dwie księżniczki przeczyła wszystkiemu, co obie znały.
Rodzice [Reader] nigdy nie pozwoliliby jej samej wyjść na plażę. Krok w krok mieli za nią podążać strażnicy.
Co prawda stosunki między syrenami a ludźmi w ostatniej dekadzie mocno się poprawiły, ale strach w społeczeństwie nie zniknął do końca. Mur oddzielający pałac od wody stał od wieków i nikt nie kwapił się, aby go usunąć. Król z królową stwierdzili, że przezorny zawsze ubezpieczony. Traktat zakazywał polowań na morskich sąsiadów oraz karał piratów, ale czarny rynek wciąż istniał. Napędzały go grupy z Ośmioma Wskazaniami Śmierci na czele. Bano się otwarcie im postawić.
Zasady nie powstrzymywały jednak [Reader] od wymykania się na pobliską plażę.
Eri zakazywano odwiedzania lądu z powodu jej daru. Była ostatnią potomkinią rodu królewskiego. Jej leczące łzy i pochodzenie czyniły z niej pożądaną zdobycz. Na razie prawie wszystkie decyzje związane z państwem podejmowała za nią Morska Rada. Przydzielono jej również pana Aizawę. Uczył ją etykiety, zasad oraz wiedzy potrzebnej w późniejszych rządach. Obowiązki bardzo ją nudziły, ale nie miała w tej kwestii wiele do powiedzenia.
Któregoś czerwcowego dnia ciekawość wzięła górę, co doprowadziło do poznania się dwóch księżniczek. Ich pierwsze spotkanie było wypełnione obawami, ale mimo to postanowiły kontynuować znajomość. Z czasem okazało się, że na obu z nich ciążą podobne zobowiązania oraz wymagania. Wspólne tematy oraz chęć poznania światów innych niż do tej pory przyczyniły się do rozwoju przyjaźni.
— Jak się czujesz? — zapytała szeptem syrenka, głaszcząc ją delikatnie po głowie.
— Jest w porządku. — Dziewczyna dotknęła miejsca, gdzie ją uderzono.
Wymacała skrzepłą krew, ale nie czuła bólu.
— To Overhaul, prawda? — Wstała z pomocą Eri.
Otrzymała kiwnięcie głową.
— Zanieśli nas na koniec półwyspu. Wydaje mi się, że chcą stąd rano odpłynąć, bo mówili coś o statku. Chyba jeszcze nie wiedzą, kim jesteś.
[Reader] przypomniała sobie ostatni raz, kiedy była na tej części plaży. Kamienne ściany z napisami, szum fal i krata wprost przed nią utwierdziły ją w przekonaniu, że ma rację. Wiedziała, gdzie się znajduje.
— To stare więzienie przemytników. Tu kiedyś więzili syreny zanim zostawały sprzedane. Byłam tu, kiedy miałam kilka lat. Nie umiałam się dobrze wspinać i skręciłam kostkę na jednej ze skał. Strasznie się obluzowywały...
W tym momencie dotarło do niej, że jeszcze nie wszystko jest stracone.
— Powiedz mi, jeśli usłyszysz, że ktoś nadchodzi. — Zaczęła po kolei sprawdzać skały.
Z trudem przesunęła po ziemi jeden z głazów, by móc dostać się do tych nad głową. Gdy wyciągnęła czwartego z kolei wyszczerbionego kandydata, utworzyła się szczelina. Do celi dostał się wąski strumień księżycowego blasku. Dziewczyna pchała coraz mocniej. Kamień ustąpił, wpadając z pluskiem do morza. Powstała dziura była jednak bardzo mała, a żaden z sąsiadujących głazów ani drgnął. Przeszukała też pozostałe, ale na nic.
Z bólem serca zerknęła na przyjaciółkę.
— Musisz sprowadzić pomoc. Podsadzę cię, ale jestem za duża, żeby stąd uciec.
— Nie. — Syrenka objęła ją mocno za nogi. — Zostanę tu z tobą i coś wymyślimy.
Nadal zdarzało się jej zapominać, że choć były do siebie podobne, Eri wciąż była tylko dzieckiem.
— Posłuchaj. Ja też się bardzo boję, ale kto wie, co nam zrobią? Na drugim końcu plaży powinien być patrol strażników. Myślę, że cię nie zaatakują, jeśli nie będziesz wykonywać gwałtownych ruchów. Może spotkasz też kogoś po drodze. Przynajmniej ty musisz się wydostać. — Przytuliła ją najmocniej, jak potrafiła.
— Dam radę. — Mała wzięła głęboki wdech.
[Reader] wzięła ją na ręce i wspięła się na kamień. Podsadzenie tak wysoko osoby z ogonem wymagało nie lada sprawności. Była pewna, że gdyby nie lata wymykania się z pałacu, nie dałaby rady tego zrobić.
Dziura była bardzo wąska. Kiedy Eri była już w połowie na zewnątrz, nagle usłyszały Chrono.
— Idę sprawdzić — rzekł zaspanym głosem do jednego z towarzyszy.
Dziewczyny z całej siły próbowały przepchać resztę ciała między głazami. Każda sekunda się liczyła. Syrenie łuski starły się aż do krwi.
— Co tu się...
W tym momencie nastąpiło głośne chlupnięcie.
— Wstawać! Zbudźcie szefa! — Mężczyzna wiedział, że nieuwaga, której się dopuścił, może go kosztować życie. — Ty idziesz ze mną. — Wycelował bronią w [Reader].
Nie mając wyboru, podążyła za nim.
Stanęła przed Chisakim. W jego oczach dostrzegła chłodne wyrachowanie i nienawiść.
Podszedł w stronę morza i zawołał:
— Eri, wiem, że mnie słyszysz. Twoja przyjaciółka nadal tu jest. Zamierzasz ją zostawić? Chcesz mieć jej krew na rękach? Jestem pewny, że nie. Daję ci pięć minut, żebyś wróciła.
Syrenka płynęła ze wszystkich sił, starając się zagłuszyć w umyśle słowa niesione przez fale. Wiedziała, że jeśli wróci, obie skończą okropnie. Nie znaczyło to jednak, że nie miała ochoty natychmiast zawrócić.
— Shinso! — W oddali ujrzała znajomego kapitana w otoczeniu strażników, gorączkowo czegoś szukających.
— Wasza Królewska Mość! — Pokłonili się.
Nie była jeszcze koronowana, a jednak zwracano się do niej, jakby już zasiadała na tronie. Nigdy nie udało jej się tego zmienić.
Stojący na czele grupy tryton nie przejmował się jednak formalnościami.
— Masz pojęcie, że cały pałac cię szuka? Aizawa odchodzi od zmysłów, a Rada już myśli, że ktoś cię porwał...
Normalnie by się tym przejęła i wysłuchała kazania do końca, teraz jednak nie miała na to czasu.
— To nieważne! Słuchaj, musisz dać znać panu Aizawie. Na zachód stąd, na plaży, na końcu półwyspu, jest Overhaul i grupa piratów. Zaatakował moją przyjaciółkę. Musimy jej pomóc.
Nastała cisza. Zmieszani strażnicy patrzyli w stronę kapitana. Zrobić coś przy brzegu oznaczało pomóc ludziom, a to stanowiło kontrowersyjną prośbę.
— To rozkaz! — Dumnie uniosła głowę, patrząc rozmówcom w oczy, jak sugerował jej kiedyś nauczyciel.
Bardzo szanowała pana Aizawę. Czasem umykało jej sedno jego nauk. To w takich chwilach, jak ta, uświadamiała sobie, że jednak mają praktyczny sens.
— Oczywiście! — Kapitan skinął głową.
Księżniczka machnęła ogonem i popędziła z powrotem, a za nią część strażników.
***
— Eri, po co wróciłaś? — [Reader] z niedowierzaniem patrzyła na kolorowy ogon wyłaniający się z morza.
— Widzę, że masz jednak trochę rozsądku. — Na ustach Chisakiego zagościł szyderczy uśmiech.
Zbierało się na sztorm. Ciemna, niebieskozielona woda kotłowała się, tworząc pianę. Silny wiatr wzburzał morze. Przenikał do kości stojących na brzegu, przemokniętych wodą ludzi.
Ta pogoda umożliwiła straży schować się pod wodą, tuż przy księżniczce. Ukryło to też niespodziankę dla Overhaula.
Zwinne, fioletowe macki wyskoczyły w jego stronę zanim się zorientował. Owinęły się też wokół Chrono. [Reader] została sprytnie i precyzyjnie oddzielona. W ciągu sekund znalazła się poza ich zasięgiem.
Fale coraz bardziej szalały. Oczy piekły ją od słonej wody, ale w rozmazanej wizji dojrzała sylwetkę swojego wybawiciela. Miał długie, czarne włosy i przenikliwe oczy. Skierowane były wprost na nią, zupełnie jakby napastnicy najmniej go teraz interesowali. Wyglądał na zmęczonego, jednak wykrzykiwał kolejno rozkazy do swoich ludzi, słuchając tego, co mówi mu Eri.
Po chwili delikatnie odstawił ją na mokry piasek.
Nogi plątały jej się, gdy szła w kierunku morza. Stojąc po kolana w wodzie, rzuciła się w ramiona dziewczynki. Płakały, tuląc się wzajemnie. Nie liczyło się, że na brzeg właśnie przybyła pałacowa straż, a na małą syrenkę patrzą jej ludzie. Wszyscy udawali bardziej zainteresowanych więźniami, próbując dać im namiastkę prywatności.
— [Reader], to jest pan Aizawa Shōta, mój nauczyciel. A to [Reader]… — Karcący wzrok opiekuna sprawił, że natychmiast się poprawiła. — Yyy... Jej przyszła Królewska Wysokość [Reader] z [Nazwa Królestwa].
— Dziękuję za pomoc. — Skinęła głową.
— Cała przyjemność po mojej stronie, księżniczko — odparł sztywno, oddając ukłon.
Nie uśmiechnął się ani razu, odkąd go widziała. Kiedy jednak patrzył w stronę wychowanki, widziała w jego wzroku czułość, której brak było dumnym i często zimnym ludziom morza.
Bała się, że od tej pory kontakty z przyjaciółką zostaną ucięte. Pozostawała jednak jedna furtka, z której mogła skorzystać.
— W dowód wdzięczności proszę, bądźcie moimi gośćmi honorowymi na urodzinowym balu. Oficjalne zaproszenia zostaną rozesłane w tym tygodniu, ale już teraz zapraszam Jej Wysokość z delegacją.
Otrzymała skinienie głową, niedające żadnej jednoznacznej odpowiedzi. Na razie to musiało jej wystarczyć.
***
Księżniczka była pewna, że Shōtę zobaczy dopiero za miesiąc na uroczystości. Okazało się jednak, że los miał inne plany. Jej ojciec stwierdził, że to dobry moment na rozmowę o kwestiach bezpieczeństwa i zawarcie sojuszu z podwodnym królestwem. W tym celu wiedźma Chiyo przeszła samą siebie, w rekordowym czasie tworząc mikstury dające nogi.
[Reader], jako przyszłej władczyni, wypadało, by była obecna na rozmowach oraz podejmowała przybyłych. Spotykali się więc niemal codziennie. Nie kryła się szczególnie z tym, że zasiadający w Morskiej Radzie nauczyciel stał się jej ulubionym gościem. Z początku wydawał jej się nudny. Szybko jednak przekonała się, że posiada ogromną wiedzę i rozmowy z nim przeistaczały się w ciekawe dyskusje. Nie przeszkadzał mu również sposób, w jaki się zachowywała. Nie patrzył na nią dziwnym wzrokiem, kiedy któregoś razu przyszła na spotkanie w stroju do jazdy konnej. Jej umiejętności walki nie odstraszały go, a wręcz przeciwnie, udzielał jej cennych wskazówek.
Spokój i opanowanie, z jakim odnosił się do wszystkiego, sprawiały, że lubiła go coraz bardziej. Widziała też, że z czasem zaczął się odnosić do niej coraz poufniej. Rozmowy zaczęły zbaczać z tematów politycznych, a służba plotkowała o nietypowej znajomości, kiedy nikt nie patrzył.
Martwiła się, co nastąpi po jej urodzinach. Miał to być wieczór pieczętujący nowe ustawy i wzajemną współpracę. Po nim Aizawa miał wrócić do morza, a ona powinna skupić się na rządzeniu. Tego od niej oczekiwano. Czuła, że noc może przeistoczyć się w pożegnanie, jeśli niczego nie zrobi.
Odsunęła to jednak na bok, pozwalając służącym pomóc jej z suknią. Niebieskozielony materiał spływał prawie do samej ziemi. Błyszczał przy każdym kroku dzięki wszytym w niego szafirom i szmaragdom. Na głowę założyła diadem z pereł, podarunek od Eri. Choć syrenka nie mogła jej przez ten czas odwiedzać, postanowiła pisać listy na wodorostach i przesyłać z nimi prezenty. Na toaletce stała już całkiem pokaźna kolekcja biżuterii oraz kolorowych muszli.
Zeszła do sali balowej, by po raz ostatni sprawdzić, czy wszystko wygląda, jak powinno.
Kwiaty w odcieniach zieleni, niebieskiego i bieli stały ułożone w ogromnych wazonach. Ściany ozdobiono draperią przypominającą fale spienionego morza. Stoły uginały się od potraw. Wyraźnie dało się zauważyć, w którym miejscu zasiądzie delegacja gości honorowych. Pojawiło się tam o wiele więcej ryb, ostryg, krabów i homarów niż przy innych krzesłach. U szczytu stołu właśnie pojawił się ogromny tort, czekający, by wykarmić kilkuset ludzi.
Posrebrzany zegar wybił ósmą. Wyjrzała przez przeszklony balkon. Kilku lordów wraz z hrabinami wysiadało właśnie z powozów. Służba na dziedzińcu gorączkowo krzątała się, prowadząc ich do środka.
Tymczasem jej matka z niepokojem zmierzała w stronę tronu. Nie była zadowolona z całej sytuacji. Pochodziła z miejsc, gdzie do masakr syren dochodziło w dawnych czasach o wiele częściej. Uprzedzenia rodziców trzymały się jej mocno od lat. Z niezadowoleniem spoglądała na męża, próbując jednocześnie przypilnować młodego Kotę. Brat [Reader] starał się uciec z przyjęcia ze wszystkich sił. Poddał się dopiero gdy zaanonsowano pierwszego gościa, wiedząc, że przegrał i następna okazja nadarzy się dopiero po posiłku.
Jej przyjaciółka przyjechała na wybrzeże w wielkim stylu. Widzieli to wszyscy zebrani przez ogromne okna. Widok z nich sięgał ponad mur. Połyskujący rydwan ciągnęły hipokampy. Jak dotąd sądzono, że zwierzęta te wyginęły, co zrobiło wrażenie na oglądających. W towarzystwie dostojników oraz straży orszak ruszył w kierunku pałacu. Zostali powitani o wiele pozytywniej niż się spodziewała. Być może spowodowały to niedawne wydarzenia, obietnica umowy handlowej, przepych, jakim olśniewało pierwsze wrażenie, lub zwyczajnie sama Eri. Mała syrenka była dosłownie wszędzie, zadawała mnóstwo pytań i, co dziwne, znalazła wspólny język z Kotą. Miała też do opowiedzenia mnóstwo rzeczy z tych kilku tygodni, gdy nie widziała się z [Reader].
Noc wypełniły powitania, rozmowy, przemowy, życzenia urodzinowe oraz stosy prezentów. O północy tradycyjnie miały rozpocząć się tańce. [Reader] starała się wykręcić jak tylko mogła. Jej rodzice jednak uparli się, że powinna poprowadzić wszystkich na parkiet. Wiedziała, że przez pierwszą zwrotkę utworu oczy wszystkich będą zwrócone w jej stronę.
— Zdenerwowana? — Nie miała pojęcia, jak bardzo tęskniła za tym głosem.
Przez cztery godziny nie mieli okazji stanąć obok siebie. Przez cały czas ktoś zajmował ich uwagę, a miejsca przy stole znajdowały się zbyt daleko.
— Będę musiała improwizować. — Śmiech był krótki i nerwowy. — Większość lekcji opuszczałam, żeby iść na plażę. Na szczęście nauczyciel tańca zbyt mnie lubił, żeby wydać rodzicom.
— Z kim zamierzasz zatańczyć? — zadał pytanie niby od niechcenia, skupiając wzrok na swoim kieliszku szampana.
— Myślałam o bohaterze, o którym plotkuje całe miasto, ale nie jestem pewna, czy zechce wziąć udział w tak dużej kompromitacji.
— Myślę, że czułby się zaszczycony. — Odstawił trunek na jedną z tac, po czym poprowadził ją w kierunku orkiestry.
[Reader] nie pamiętała, kiedy ostatni raz była tak zdenerwowana. Był to inny rodzaj strachu niż ten, który czuła podczas porwania. Poczuła lekkie mrowienie, gdy Shōta złożył na jej dłoni pocałunek. Położyła lewą rękę na jego ramieniu, a palce prawej szczelnie splotła z partnerem.
— Wszystko będzie dobrze — wyszeptał cicho, patrząc jej w oczy.
Wybrzmiały pierwsze takty piosenki. Krok za krokiem przypominała sobie, jak powinna stąpać. Aizawa prowadził ją przez cały czas. Nie podejrzewała go o to, że wie, jak tańczyć. Ludzie pod wodą robili to w zupełnie inny sposób. Rzadko też byli w stanie tak dobrze kontrolować nogi. A jednak wirowali razem. Muzyka przyspieszyła i dziewczyna prawie się potknęła. On jednak złapał ją za plecy, unosząc z powrotem do góry. Dla widzów wyglądało to jak wspaniała improwizacja, którą nagrodzili oklaskami. Nauczyciel tańca pokiwał tylko głową z uznaniem. Był jedną z niewielu osób na sali, które przejrzały, co naprawdę się działo. Sprytne obroty i unoszenie księżniczki w odpowiednich momentach ukrywały niedostatki w znajomości układu.
Po minucie na parkiet dołączyła reszta gości. [Reader] w końcu mogła się rozluźnić. Nikt już nie zwracał uwagi na to, że nadepnęła na stopę Aizawy. Piosenka grana przez orkiestrę była smutna. Znał ją każdy po tej stronie morza, od żebraków po bogaczy. Instrumenty opowiadały historię syreny tęskniącej za morzem. Ukochany nie odwzajemnił jej miłości w ciągu trzech dni. Miała wybór — stracić życie lub zabić go. Różne wersje podawały całkowicie inne zakończenia. Nie miało to jednak znaczenia, bo zgadzano się co do jednego — smutnego wydźwięku cierpienia w miłości.
Zabrzmiała ostatnia nuta. Ukłoniła się i ruszyła w stronę stołu. Przez resztę nocy odnajdywała już Shōtę z łatwością. Przygotowano pokaz fajerwerków, który każdy śledził z zapartym tchem. Goście, upojeni najróżniejszymi trunkami, nie zwracali już uwagi na etykietę. Nadchodził poranek.
Złapała mężczyznę za rękę i poprowadziła na zewnątrz. Strażnicy popatrzyli na nią z zaciekawieniem, jednak nie zatrzymali jej. Mijała ogrodowe alejki pełne kwitnących kwiatów. Na końcu ścieżki znajdowały się schody wykute w białym kamieniu. Prowadziły do maleńkiego, skalistego kawałka plaży. [Reader] porzuciła pantofelki na piasku, by wejść do wody. Zdawała sobie sprawę z tego, że wygląda dziwnie, trzymając suknię w obu rękach ponad powierzchnią wody, ale po całej nocy bolały ją stopy. Aizawa poszedł za jej przykładem.
Kiedy się odwrócił, zdał sobie sprawę z tego, jak blisko siebie stoją. Stykali się ramionami. Instynktownie nachylił się bliżej. Dziewczyna przymknęła oczy. Spoglądał na jej twarz i był prawie pewny, że ich usta się zetkną. Magia chwili zniknęła, gdy przypomniał sobie słowa, które usłyszał chwilę wcześniej.
— ...nie jestem tak ślepa, jak mój mąż. Zastanów się dwa razy zanim zniszczysz życie mojej córce. — Królowa Mandalay zakończyła wypowiedź po czym z wymuszonym uśmiechem ruszyła z powrotem do gości.
W pierwszym odruchu chciał się zbuntować. W końcu decyzja należała do niego i [Reader]. Jednak coś w środku zaczęło go gryźć. Obowiązki i zasady, których uczył innych przez tyle lat, dały o sobie znać.
Delikatnie odsunął księżniczkę od siebie.
— Przepraszam — wyszeptał. — To zaszło za daleko. Nic z tego nie będzie...
— Przecież... Wydawało mi się, że... — Słowa grzęzły w gardle.
— Tak będzie lepiej. — Odwrócił się.
Patrzył wprost na mur. Miał wrażenie, że dokładnie taki sam stoi teraz między ich dwójką. Co gorsza, to on go zbudował.
— Kto ci to powiedział? Moja matka, tak? — Czuła, jak złość wzbiera w niej gwałtowną falą.
— To nie ma znaczenia. Ma rację. Zapomniałem, kim jestem i gdzie moje miejsce...
— Wasza Królewska Wysokość, goście oczekują twojej mowy pożegnalnej — zawołał znad schodów jeden ze strażników.
— Zaraz będę.
— Nie możemy dłużej czekać.
— Idź do nich. Za chwilę też wrócę — powiedział Aizawa, spoglądając na brzask.
— Shōta... Chciałabym... — Odtrącił jej rękę. — Rozumiem. Uszanuję twoją decyzję. Życzę ci szczęścia.
Odwróciła się w kierunku schodów. Po jej policzku spłynęła łza, którą szybko otarła wierzchem dłoni. Założyła pantofelki i podążyła za strażnikiem.
Aizawa nie był przygotowany, choć słyszał o tym niejeden raz. Czuł, jak jego ciało staje się płynne. Było to dziwne uczucie. Promienie wschodzącego słońca zdawały się przenikać każdą komórkę jego ciała. Myślał, że będzie żałować swojej decyzji. W końcu pozwolił sobie zakochać się w człowieku. Ostrzegano go przed tym wiele razy, a jednak stało się. Sam nie do końca wierzył, że rzeczywiście może zjednoczyć się z morzem, jeśli odrzuci to uczucie. Teraz jednak utwierdzał się w przekonaniu, że była to prawda. Niebieskozielona głębia wzywała go. Stawał się nią. Był tym, co dawało życie istotom pod wodą. Poruszał wodorostami, pływał na rafie koralowej, rozmawiał z rybami, pomagał tworzyć perły, przesiewał piasek.
Dziwnym uczuciem było być równocześnie bryzą i sztormem.
Cisza i huk fal, zupełna ciemność i feeria barw, gładka tafla wody i chropowate skały.
Nie był tylko morską pianą. Stawał się częścią czegoś większego.
Zupełnie inaczej niż w historii, do której tańczyli. Nie czuł się pokrzywdzony jak syrena z pieśni. On nie chciał zostać uratowany. Odrzucił szansę. Wybrał obowiązek zamiast miłości. Nie był to koniec, tylko początek.
Usłyszał w oddali przeciągły dźwięk konchy.
Wiedział, że powinien pamiętać jej twarz, jej zapach, jej dotyk, jej głos...
Powinien kogoś pamiętać...
Powinien coś pamiętać...
Pieśń morza skutecznie zagłuszyła pytania. Nie myślał. Nie czuł. Nie było czasu. Po prostu istniał.
Obmywał czyjeś stopy. Zbierał czyjeś łzy. Nie wiedział czyje, bo morze przecież nie czuje...
#aizawa shouta x reader#little mermaid au#aizawa shouta#eraserhead x reader#fanfiction#bnha#bnha x reader#eri#overhaul#chisaki kai#chronostasis
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Soul of Compassion: The Pacifist Route
by PacifistHarmony
When Nanako fell into the hole below, she thought she didn't survive, on the contrary, she did, Oka saved her on time.
Now, they've entered a whole new world that's very different from the one they had left. While the world above had declared Nanako missing/dead. Izuku and Katsuki are both devestated that they couldn't save her from herself on time.
They both promised that they would do whatever it takes to find her once they get stronger. All Might feels the guilt and regret crawl on his back when he hears this and can only blame himself. Since then, he silently vows that the two boys can never know that he's the reason why she disappeared.
Meanwhile, Nana and Oka embark on a brand new adventure, will they both survive and escape the mountain alive?
Would Oka let her human leave the Underground at all?
Would Nanako even want to leave? Or would she stay and help the monsters escape the Underground as well?
So many questions and so very little answers
For this, is the story of their Undertale.
Words: 5423, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English
Series: Part 2 of Pacifist Route, Neutral Route, Genocide Route & The Final Act
Fandoms: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia, Undertale (Video Game)
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death
Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M
Characters: OC (Nanako Nakamura), OC (Okanan Arumakan), Midoriya Izuku, Bakugou Katsuki, Yagi Toshinori | All Might, Tamakawa Sansa, Tsukauchi Naomasa, Pro Heroes (My Hero Academia), Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead, Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic, Todoroki Enji | Endeavor, Class 1-A (My Hero Academia), Class 1-B (My Hero Academia), Toogata Mirio, Hadou Nejire, Amajiki Tamaki, Toyomitsu Taishirou | Fat Gum, Sasaki Mirai | Sir Nighteye, Eri (My Hero Academia), Chisaki Kai | Overhaul, Toga Himiko, League of Villains (My Hero Academia), Frisk (Undertale), Chara (Undertale), Flowey (Undertale), Toriel (Undertale), Sans (Undertale), Papyrus (Undertale), Monster Kid (Undertale), Undyne (Undertale), Alphys (Undertale), Mettaton (Undertale), Muffet (Undertale), Muffet's Pet (Undertale), Asgore Dreemurr, Asriel Dreemurr
Relationships: Sans/Toriel (Undertale), Papyrus/Mettaton, Alphys/Undyne (Undertale)
Additional Tags: Pacifist Route (Undertale), Monsters live, Undertale is very different from the Surface, Reader is not Frisk or Chara (Undertale), Intrusive Thoughts, Suicidal Thoughts, Suicidal Attempts, Near Death Experiences, Post War, Bully Ocs face Consequences, Characters Get Therapy, A LOT of Angst, OC has to suffer, OC dies a lot, OC refuses to FIGHT, OC shows MERCY, Midoriya Izuku Has a Quirk, Midoriya Izuku Has One for All Quirk, Katsuki and Izuku become friends again, All Might Bashing, BakuDeku will hate All Might, Depression, OC has Phobias, PTSD Nightmares/Flashbacks, backstories revealed, Undertale Songs, Found Family, Characters are part of the LGBTQ Community, everyone survives, Eri gets saved early, Digital Art, Angst with a Happy Ending, Monster Encounters, Fluff and Hurt/Comfort
source https://archiveofourown.org/works/34118248
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Emily is Away <3 i młodzieżowa drama, która zaangażuje nie tylko nastolatków
Emily znowu to zrobiła. Emily złamała serce mojego bohatera po raz trzeci. A na miłość nie ma żadnej rady, ona jest albo jej nie ma. Na ten wyjątkowy symulator Facebooka czekałam od momentu zapowiedzi, ponieważ dwie poprzednie części wywarły na mnie duże wrażenie. Zwłaszcza ta druga, bo podczas rozgrywki moje palce płonęły od walenia w klawiaturę, gdy chciałam utrzymać znajomość z obiema przyjaciółkami na satysfakcjonującym poziomie.
W najnowszej produkcji Kyle'a Seeleya, niezależnego twórcy gier mieszkającego w Bostonie, dzieje się jeszcze więcej. Bohaterowie rezygnują z korzystania z małego czatu tekstowego na rzecz serwisu społecznościowego, jakim jest Facenook. To właśnie od założenia tam profilu gracz rozpoczyna swoją podróż. Może wybrać dowolne imię, nazwisko, nazwę w pasku URL oraz avatar określający wygląd i płeć tworzonej postaci.
Fabuła opiera się na sprawach nastoletnich osób, które lada moment skończą szkołę średnią i opuszczą rodzinne strony w celu rozpoczęcia studiów. Ponownie pojawiają się Emily i Evelyn, czyli różniące się jak ogień i woda koleżanki protagonisty. Jedna albo druga może zostać naszym obiektem westchnień, ale czy końcówka liceum to dobry moment na rozpoczynanie związku? Przewijające się w trakcie pięciu rozdziałów postacie stale obawiają się rozpadu przyjaźni i naturalnych zmian, jakich człowiek doświadcza, dorastając i usamodzielniając się. Drama między Emily a Evelyn nie jest aż tak zaognionym konfliktem jak w Emily is Away Too, ale napięcie między dziewczętami bez problemu można odczuć. Historia jest bardzo prosta i wydaje mi się, że większość odbiorców w jakiś sposób się z nią utożsami, wspominając własne początki z komunikatorami i mediami społecznościowymi.
Sama z rozrzewnieniem wspominam czasy słynnego Gadu-Gadu. To z pewnością pierwszy internetowy komunikator, z jakiego korzystałam. Wiem, że gdybym teraz przeczytała niektóre konwersacje z 2008 albo 2009 roku, to zapadłabym się pod ziemię. A prawda jest taka, że na GG przyszło mi umawiać się na pierwsze randki, rozwijać przyjaźnie, które nie przetrwały próby czasu, a nawet żegnać się w gniewie z tymi przyjaciółmi i nie zdawać sobie sprawy z tego, że lepsze czasy dla tych relacji już nie nadejdą. Dlatego historia przedstawiona w Emily is Away <3 może wydawać się tak bliska i przywoływać ogrom niespodziewanej nostalgii. Gra bardzo dobrze odnosi się do wczesnej w Polsce ery Facebooka - wszechobecnych quizów, bitew na zaczepki (opcja ta znikła już dobrych parę lat temu) i dodawania wpisów dosłownie o wszystkim i o niczym.
Nowe nie zawsze znaczy lepsze
Sposób rozgrywki nie proponuje zbyt wielu nowych rozwiązań względem swej poprzedniczki, a sama komunikacja na czacie zubożała. Pamiętam, jak ogromnie irytowało mnie, gdy po wybraniu jednej z kilku opcji dialogowych mój bohater wpisał zdanie do połowy, a później kasował wiadomość i obierał bezpieczniejszą drogę. Tutaj zdarza się to tylko naszym rozmówcom, choć obserwowanie, jak ktoś wpisuje albo usuwa tekst, nadaje grze pewnego dynamizmu.
Podobnie jak w reszcie serii, również w Emily is Away <3 należy uderzać w klawisze do momentu, gdy wiadomość jest w pełni utworzona i gotowa do wysłania. Można klikać w losowe przyciski, a równie dobrze można mruczeć do siebie pod nosem i udawać, że wpisuje się jakiś inny tekst, kątem oka śledząc ten wstukiwany przez postać. Żałuję, że gra jest pozbawiona momentów, w których liczy się szybki czas odpowiedzi i od niego zależy dalszy rozwój sytuacji - to kolejny krok w tył. Ale lista zarzutów na tym się nie kończy. Nie bójcie się - zachwyty też będą, inaczej recenzja nie byłaby oznaczona uniesionym kciukiem.
Przede wszystkim, mając do dyspozycji interfejs rozbudowanej platformy, wydawałoby się, że możliwości gracza nie będą ograniczone. Mówiąc o możliwościach, mam na myśli chociażby zmianę zdjęcia profilowego w dowolnym momencie, dodanie statusu, polubienie i skomentowanie czyjegoś wpisu, rozpoczęcie krótkiej rozmowy z osobą mniej istotną dla fabuły. Wiecie, takie małe czynności, które urozmaicają rozgrywkę, ale niekoniecznie wpływają na bieg wydarzeń. Niestety, tego typu działania nie zostały zaprojektowane i wdrożone. Historia jest bardzo liniowa i ciągnie gracza za rękę, nogę i głowę. Nie przejdziemy dalej, jeśli nie rozwiążemy nudnego quizu. A gdyby twórca pozwolił graczowi na wypięcie się i zerwanie znajomości z Emily i Evelyn przed piątym rozdziałem?
Obserwujemy, jak na feedzie pojawiają się nowe wpisy, fotografie, czatujemy ze znajomymi i zatwierdzamy uczestnictwo w różnych wydarzeniach. Jest to ciekawe, ale tych interakcji jest zdecydowanie za mało. I mimo że zakończeń w różnych wariacjach jest aż 9, już po pierwszym przejściu gry jestem w stanie przewidzieć kolejne, bo kluczowych decyzji wcale nie ma dużo.
Oczywiście człowiek jest w stanie dostosować się do tego, co oferuje gra. I bywały momenty, że moje serce zabiło mocniej, bo odrzucenie przez fikcyjną postać nagle stało się najbardziej bolesnym wydarzeniem w ciągu minionego dnia, a zdrady wywoływały prawdziwą irytację. Ja się dobrze bawiłam przy Emily is Away <3, ale nie tak dobrze jak przy drugiej części i to też należy podkreślić. Chciałabym, żeby ta seria w końcu wyszła poza mury szkoły średniej i przedstawiła losy starszych bohaterów. Pozostałe scenariusze chętnie rozegram w przyszłości.
Strona audiowizualna jest super!
Prosta grafika dodaje serii niepowtarzalnego uroku. Jestem mało obiektywna, ponieważ lubię pixel art w każdej postaci, natomiast niektórym wygląd Emily is Away się nie podoba i zapewne jest to kwestia bardzo niskiego poziomu szczegółów. Twarze bohaterów są puste, paleta kolorów jest mocno ograniczona. Całość prezentuje się trochę jak wytwór programu Paint, jednak postęp fabularny zmniejsza wrażliwość na ten aspekt i w pewnym momencie zwraca się już uwagę tylko na to, kto, gdzie i jak pozuje do zdjęcia. Osobiście nie chciałabym ładniejszej grafiki, a już w ogóle nie wyobrażam sobie, żeby naszkicowanego w parę minut bohatera zastąpiło zdjęcie z prawdziwym człowiekiem.
Inną wartą uwagi sprawą jest możliwość przesłuchiwania playlist muzycznych stworzonych przez postacie z gry i zaimportowanych na specjalnie utworzony serwis Youtoob. To fajnie wpływa na immersyjność: słucha się hitów z różnych gatunków z lat 2007-2008 i w międzyczasie komentuje poszczególne utwory na czacie.
Do następnego!
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Honest KH2 Critique
I wanna talk about Kingdom Hearts II since we're quickly approaching it's 15th anniversary. Ever since it was released, it's become a game that people irritatingly refuse to be moderate over, or at least when it comes to the vocal fans online. People who love it don't love it so much as worship it, while people who hate it don't hate it so much as despise it with every fiber of their being. I may technically fall into the "love" category (I share the majority fan and critic view that KH2, especially it's Final Mix edition, is the best game in the series), but I'm also willing to look at both its good and its bad, and do so in moderation rather than hyperbolically.
And I know, without a doubt - Kingdom Hearts II...has the absolute worst-written story out of the KH Trinity!
OK, that was said hyperbolically, but I did so as a joke!
It's so weird that the original Kingdom Hearts and Chain of Memories have narratives that are deeply and thoughtfully structured with such care and consistency, and then the trilogy is rounded out by such a messily-written rollercoaster of quality!
.....Well, all right, maybe not that weird.
When interviewed shortly after KH2's first public reveal at the 2003 Tokyo Game Show, this is how Tetsuya Nomura described the process for writing the game's story: "I'm writing the plot, the main story of Sora and co. Other people are in charge of the plots for the events that will happen in each Disney world. Combining that with Nojima, we're completing one scenario."
The "other people" in question are the Event team: Masaru Oka, Ryo Tsurumaki, Michio Matsuura, Atsuko Ishikura, Yukari Ishida, and Kumiko Takahashi. Daisuke Watanabe and Harunori Sakemi also assisted Nojima with scenario writing whenever the need arose.
The problem that this process caused isn't apparent at first glance, but it's actually right there in that interview excerpt: "I'm writing the plot". In KH and CoM, Nomura only wrote the initial plot outlines, which were very simple and ripe for being fleshed out by the actual scenario writer. There's a big difference between that and writing a full-fledged plot the way he did here.
Nomura wrote the story for what transpires in the KH-original worlds: Twilight Town, Hollow Bastion, the World That Never Was and Destiny Islands. It goes like this:
As far as plots go, I actually really like this one. It's a strong plot.
It's also convoluted as Hell.
I made a post saying the three one-word convoluted elements of KH2's plot are "Nobodies", "Data", and "Ansem". All three of those are literally the cornerstones of this plot that Nomura cooked up: they play a huge role through the beginning, middle and end! Because Nomura had more power with making this game, none of the more...out-there stuff that these concepts created could be curbed or removed. Which means that the scenario writer had better be in tune with Nomura when it comes to presenting them in a coherent way.
For the most part, Kazushige Nojima was....not.
Here is a tell-tale sign that Nomura and Nojima were not in sync. When asked if he planned from the start to make Kingdom Hearts be the heart-shaped moon seen on the cover of the original game, Nomura replied "No, I didn't. I asked Nojima-san to write the scenario and in his scenario it was written that the Kingdom Hearts Xemnas created is 'like a moon that floats in the World that Never Was'. When I read that, I thought ‘’Oh, this can be connected!’’"
Nomura just admitted that Nojima essentially had to make up how to convey Xemnas harnessing and trying to complete Kingdom Hearts, because Nomura's plot did nothing to convey it. It was a "wait, how the fuck is he doing that!?" detail. And you really get the sense all throughout the scenario that Nojima is struggling with trying to convey Nomura's stuff, and he has said as much in interviews: Nomura's plot and concepts confused him.
It also doesn't help that Nojima was the least major scenario writer on the original KH, mainly limited to the co-creation of Ansem with Nomura and writing the entire End of the World section. This is probably why Xemnas and Ansem the Wise are clearly the KH-original characters with the most confidence and complexity behind their writing in KH2's scenario. Nojima writes Sora, Kairi, their Nobodies Roxas and Namine, and Riku far more simplistically and trope-y, and the other Organization members and trio of Hayner, Pence and Olette are side characters so naturally they don't get much depth.
Then there's Masaru Oka and his Event Team. First off, while Masaru Oka is definitely on Nomura's wavelength and understands his vision to a fault, as Event Director he is superbly mediocre at presenting that vision, or Nojima's for that matter. He just isn't cinematically inclined the way Jun Akiyama was in the original KH, and that leads to the event scenes usually being the barest minimum of adequate at best, and laughably awkward at worst.
Secondly, Oka and his team were responsible for creating the plots in the Disney worlds (hence Oka's credit alongside Nomura under "Base Story"). But not only were they frequently lazy and just directly rehashed the movie's story but with Sora, Donald, Goofy and the Heartless shoved in, but half of the time they didn't even bother connecting the world plots to Nomura's main plot in any meaningful way beyond thematically ala CoM, and neither Nomura nor Nojima seemed keen on correcting this even when they really should have.
Here is a chart displaying the game's flow, stage by stage as set by world battle level. Stages where the main plot is progressed in some way are bolded, and stages of the main plot as created by Nomura have red borders around them:
Aside from Space Paranoids which was part of Nomura's plot from the get-go, the only time where correlation with the main plot occurs without any side factor to note is Beast's Castle, where both visits feature the machinations of Organization member Xaldin and culminates in the boss battle against him that leads to his demise.
Olympus Coliseum correlates to the main plot in the first visit but not the second, although the second visit is now made plot-relevant due to tying up loose ends from the first. Port Royal correlates to the main plot in the second visit but not the first, although the first visit is now made plot-relevant due to setting the stage for the second (it also has Larxene's Absent Silhouette in FM). There is technically a main plot correlation in the second visits to the Land of Dragons and Agrabah (the latter of which has Vexen's Absent Silhouette in FM), but Nojima botched the writing of them to the point where there may as well not have been, especially in the case of Agrabah’s which is "oh btw, an Organization XIII member came by off-screen".
And then there's the case of Disney Castle / Timeless River, which only acquires relevance to the main plot because it was decided that Maleficent should be resurrected and be Pete's boss in the present time. And unlike her appearance in Halloween Town, her role in this stage correlates directly to her role in the main story, revealing her resurrection to the heroes and establishing that she seeks a new evil stronghold from which to advance her return to power. Pete's backstory and connection to King Mickey shown here also receives a direct reference toward the climax of the World That Never Was.
While it could be argued that there's additional value in the first visits to Port Royal, Agrabah, Halloween Town and Pride Land due to the presence of Pete (Maleficent when it comes to Halloween Town), I would have to disagree because nothing they actually do in these stages end up mattering to the main story whatsoever - especially in Pride Land, where Pete just shows up in lion form to say “Ooga Booga Booga!”. Their presence alone just ain't enough.
The consequence here is that for the continuous stretch of Port Royal in the first go-round, Olympus Coliseum in the second, and Agrabah, Halloween Town and Pride Land in both go-rounds, it feels like nothing is advancing. And as bad as that sounds on paper, it's even worse when applied to gameplay because it means this lasts for several hours straight! The only main plot event that happens in either cycles is Kairi going to Twilight Town, which happens in a sudden cutscene between Agrabah and Halloween Town and is thus totally out of the player's control!
To sum things up, Nomura wrote a main plot that was good but too overwrought with confusing and complicated details. Nojima is a highly talented writer, but he didn't fully get Nomura's vision. Oka gets Nomura's vision, but he isn't a highly talented Event Director (and as seen in later games, he has even less talent as a writer) and often portrayed scenes that Nomura or Nojima came up with flatly. And none of these men were in sync when it came to how the Disney world plots and the main plot would connect, often simply not caring or else just not trying hard enough.
That is why KH2 has the weakest writing in the KH Trinity: the primary creative voices that shaped the story were completely out of sync with one another on a regular basis. You could say that their hearts just didn't connect on this project. And as a result, we have blatant inconsistences, bad edit jobs, pacing problems, mood whiplashes, missed opportunities, and dumbass moments galore.
However, on the occasions where things between them did manage to sync up, we were given some of the highest points in not only the KH Trinity but the entire KH series, and the input that was given from Daisuke Watanabe, Harunori Sakemi, and others like production assistant (and major Disney fanatic) Eri Morimoto surely helped the messy story become not quite as big a mess as it could have been otherwise. And that story still stayed true to the series' roots as a whimsical Disney/FF crossover project driven by relatable characters and emotional resonance, as opposed to a vanity project for Nomura that is driven by perplexing lore, plot twists and mystery boxes.
And that's why I and so many others love KH2, warts and all, and would gladly take dozens more narrative messes just like it over the different, far less enjoyable kinds of narrative messes that we've been getting afterward.
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