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Re: Sharp-O's One-Shots! "Tender & Wild" (SS23) 12/12/23

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 2:03 pm
by Feurox

What a kickstart to the season of Secret Santa's! Phenomenal job as always Sharp O. Utterly adore the story telling method here, the perspectives interjected with their little Christmas couplets. I especially enjoyed Taro's presence, but everyone knows you write a good Taro. Likewise, I think Hanako's charm really came through here swinging. As always, the banter was top tier as well:

“You want the nose too?” Akio asks and Hisao laughs.

“Nah, you look like a clown; it suits you.”

“Fuck you too, buddy.”

“You wish.” Hisao spins and the bottle points my way again. Hisao’s nice but he has spent a lot of time with Akio this year so I’m a little anxious about what he’ll do when I say…

Made me laugh out loud.

A wonderful SS submission from a wonderful poster to another. Great stuff all around. Well done Sharpy.

P.S, I drink too much. I recognise the bottle immediately XD


Re: Sharp-O's One-Shots! "Tender & Wild" (SS23) 12/12/23

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 3:35 pm
by Lap

Goddamn, the Random Number Generator Gods have smiled upon me this year! I was grinning like a fool reading this, it was lovely, and more than I ever could have wished for. Thanks for making a somewhat banal prompt into such a lovely little story! :D


Re: Sharp-O's One-Shots! "Tender & Wild" (SS23) 12/12/23

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 5:24 pm
by Sharp-O
Feurox wrote: Tue Dec 12, 2023 2:03 pm

Very nice things...

tips hat Always happy to give people cute Taros and Hanakos 8) As for Akio and Hisao's interactions... Well, let's call this a beta test.

Lap wrote: Tue Dec 12, 2023 3:35 pm

Goddamn, the Random Number Generator Gods have smiled upon me this year!

You don't know how right you are, Lap! Apart from Hanako, the cast was decided entirely by random generator! Kinda lucked out that it was mostly folks I could do some business with and some cheeky newcomers that I hadn't had call to flesh out before. Thanks for a prompt that was right in my wheelhouse and I'm super-glad you enjoyed what I came up with! Merry Chrimbo, Lap!


Re: Sharp-O's One-Shots! "Tender & Wild" (SS23) 12/12/23

Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2023 10:16 am
by StealthyWolf

That was a fantastic story and SS kick-off Sharp-O. Thought I'd come in and leave that more "eloquently" worded response I mentioned not being able to give before ;).

First and foremost I want to reiterate that I love the personalities and banter in all your works I've read so far and this one is no different. Hanako's progressive outgoing attitude as she drank more was great, and the dynamics of pretty much everyone around was just as fun to read. I also love all the little twists throughout. First was the alternate take on the Kenji endings outcome. It was a neat little twist that it may have been the "Bad End... for straight Hisao," but not the ultimate bad end. He needs to work a little harder to go off the deep end. Speaking of, I had a feeling I knew the direction this story was heading once Akio plopped himself down next to Akio. The build-up through-out the story was a joy to read and the pay-off worked out well. Also liked the twist of Hanakio being referenced and dodged since it's likely people were expecting that pairing from you again. There's probably more I could say, but I think that's the bulk of it. Great fun all around!


Re: Sharp-O's One-Shots! "Tender & Wild" (SS23) 12/12/23

Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2023 6:28 pm
by Mirage_GSM

Good start to the Secret Santa Season.
It was a bit hard to figure out the perspective changes sometimes, especially the first time it happened without warning, but you did write them distinct from each other.
Now I have to get my a** into gear and finish my story as well. It's probably going to be a bit similar, but too late to change much... Blame it on the prompt... By the way, what was the prompt for this one?


Re: Sharp-O's One-Shots! "Tender & Wild" (SS23) 12/12/23

Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2023 8:32 pm
by Sharp-O
StealthyWolf wrote: Wed Dec 13, 2023 10:16 am

That was a fantastic story and SS kick-off Sharp-O. Thought I'd come in and leave that more "eloquently" worded response I mentioned not being able to give before ;).
Lots of VERY nice things!

Thanks, Stealth! Akio's chosen path around folks was entirely intentional on my part. I really like the idea of a Akio pseudo-route now so there may be a little expansion to this or, at the very least, something akin to the Anarchy story.

Mirage_GSM wrote: Wed Dec 13, 2023 6:28 pm

Good start to the Secret Santa Season.

Thanks, Mirage!

Mirage_GSM wrote: Wed Dec 13, 2023 6:28 pm

By the way, what was the prompt for this one?

It was as follows:

Lap's Prompt wrote:

Winter exams are over, and there’s just one night at Yamaku before almost everyone heads home for winter break. The dorm party takes an unexpected turn (Comical? Tragic? Farcical? Lewd? Your call!) when someone spikes the punch and numerous people with no experience with alcohol suddenly have their first drink(s). They engage in an increasingly tipsy/honest game of “Truth or Dare.”


Re: Sharp-O's One-Shots! "Hazemyth" 24/12/23

Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 7:02 pm
by Sharp-O

“Here; lemme help you with that.”

A friendly voice called out to Kaori Yamamoto as she fumbled between the large box in her hands and the door. She peeked over her shoulder to see a bulky arm reach past her and pull one of the double doors to the girls’ dorms open. She looked at a red-tinged clear plastic bag entwined around the wrist and followed the length of the arm back to its owner.

A tall boy, she observed, but still just a little shorter than her. While she couldn’t recognise his face, there was no mistaking his size. She’d met him a few times and that was his most distinguishing and memorable feature, physically.

“Oh, thank you.” She smiled at Taro Arai, an art clubmate of her dear friend Saki Enomoto.

“No problem. You need a helping hand?” He asked with a tilt of his head as she manoeuvred the large box in her arms, the contents rustling noisily as she shifted it’s position.

“I’ve got it. It’s not particularly heavy, just big and awkward.” Kaori said, but she looked at Taro confused when he chuckled with a bassy tone.

“I know the feeling. Are those decorations? A bit late to be putting those out, isn’t it?” Taro inquired and Kaori blushed a little, knowing full well that the contents of the box wasn’t Christmas decorations but costumes. For both her and Saki. They wanted to do a cute thing while delivering Christmas cards and Kaori had asked a friend in the theatre club if they had anything. The taped-up box in her arms was what she was given.

“No; just something silly for me and Saki.” Kaori commented as they entered the elevator. Taro hit the button for the top floor then looked back the other occupant. Kaori held up two fingers from the corner of the box and Taro pressed the button for the second floor.

“Christmas is the perfect time for silly! I’m just on my way to drop off some silly presents, myself.” Taro raised his left arm, shaking the bag wrapped around his wrist. “If you’re on your way to Saki’s room, would you mind doing me a favour?”

Kaori considered it for a moment before nodding, placing the box in her arms down on the floor of the elevator as Taro allowed one strap of his bag to slide loose and proffered it toward her.

“It’s one of the first ones in there.” He smiled as Kaori carefully reached in and retrieved the bundle of red A4-sized envelopes. She shuffled through them before finding the one addressed to Saki. She showed it to Taro, who nodded in acknowledgement. “That’s the one. Would you mind giving that to her? I have a bunch to hand out and since you’re heading that way…”

“What is it? If you don’t mind me asking?” Kaori pondered, turning the envelope over in her hands. It was thin and light, maybe holding just a single piece of paper. An odd present to give.

“Just a drawing. I don’t have a lot of money at the moment so I thought I’d do something special for my friends that I know I can do, y’know?” He proudly stated, rising a little. The elevator stops at the second floor with a shudder and the doors open with a soft ka-thunk.

“That’s nice. I’m doing something similar for my girlfriend. I wrote her a little song and I’m going to play it for her tonight.” Kaori says with a grin, placing the envelope on the box as she retrieved it. She’d barely gotten onto the floor when Taro followed her and called out. “Oh! Wait!”

Kaori looked at him confused as the elevator doors closed behind him, no doubt heading up to the third floor.

“I actually have one for Lilly too!” Taro grins widely and offers out the bag again. Kaori’s eyebrows curled further in confusion and dug into the half-dozen envelopes, flicking through them until she found one without a name. She pulled it out and observed a series of soft, elevated bumps on the envelope.

“That’s the one. I had to get some help with how to spell her name in braille.” Taro readjusted the strap onto his wrist and scratched his cheek. “Hope I got it right.”

“That’s very kind of you, Taro, but… How do you draw for a blind person?” Kaori pondered, wondering how he’d accomplish such a thing.

“Ah, that took a little thinking! I drew what I wanted and then tried an embossing thing, like with the braille, where I pressed the line art until it was raised on the other side. It took a couple of attempts before I realised cardstock would be better but I think it worked out. Hopefully.” Taro chuckled nervously as he explained his process to the confused girl and he could see she wasn’t quite sure of what he meant.

“I’m sure she’ll love that you made such a considerate effort.” Kaori couldn’t wait to see Lilly open it, if for nothing else than her own curiosity.

“Thanks. She helped me with Hanako’s drawing so I thought it only right to try to do something nice for her too.”

“She’s good like that.” Kaori blushed.

“Yeah. Anyway, I’ve got more to hand out but thanks for delivering those two. If you ever need anything; let me know!” Taro smiled, raising his good arm and giving a little salute as he headed towards the stairwell. With the two envelopes balanced on her box, Kaori continued on to Saki’s room.

She took fleeting glances between the hallway and the envelopes sitting just under her eyeline. It was nice of Taro to think of Saki and Lilly but Kaori felt a little conflicted about giving Lilly a present from a boy at the same time she was going to give her present.

What if it was amazing? What if Lilly really liked it? What if she liked it more than my song? All these thoughts ran through Kaori’s mind as she arrived at Saki’s door and, without a free hand, delicately kicked the door in lieu of knocking. The door slid open to reveal Kaori’s best friend; Saki Enomoto.

“Mail call, sweetie.” Kaori smirked as Saki gestured her to enter.

“I didn’t know you had such a big package, dear.” Saki teased with a thoughtful finger on her chin.

“You stop that.” Kaori shook her head with an amused smile and placed the box on her friend’s desk. She turned in place and proffered the red envelope out to Saki. “This is from Taro.”

“Taro? Aw, he’s such a sweetheart. Do you think he’d mind if I opened it now?”

Kaori thought for a second before shaking her head. Taro hadn’t given her specific instructions so it was fair game in her mind. Saki excitedly unfolded the envelope’s flap and pulled the sheet of paper out. Her cheeks grew pink as a genuine smile began to form.

Silly boy…” She whispered as wistful eyes poured over every inch of the image before she slide it back into the envelope.

“May I see it?” Kaori asked but Saki’s cheeks only turned pinker as she deflected the question.

“I’ll show you later!” She waved her hand in front of her face with a crooked smile before turning her attention to the box. “Let’s see what we have in here first!”

Saki excitedly scored the tape of the box and opened it up. She rummaged through the costume contents before pulling free a garment that was less festive costume and more fuzzy bikini.

“I think the theatre club played a prank on you, sweetie. These are definitely not the kind of thing we should be wearing in winter…” Saki chewed her lip as she pulled out a few more articles of clothing, each more ridiculous than the last. Kaori frowned, digging through the box herself and finding the only two pieces that they could use; a pair of Santa hats, one of which had mistletoe at it’s peak rather than a pom-pom.

“Ooh! Dibs!” Saki grinned, snatching the mistletoe hat out of Kaori’s hand and pulling it onto her head. Kaori shook her head with a smirk while shaking the hat in her hand then putting it on. It was a little more snug that she’d like but it served it’s purpose.

Later, Taro had finished his work delivering his gifts to his female friends left in the dorms. Hanako, Miki, Suzu, Molly, and Rin. He’d given them each a unique drawing following his own superhero sensibilities but incorporating aspects of their personalities.

He’s not sure Rin quite understood but that was par for the course; at least she appreciated the personal gift all the same. Ritsu, his girlfriend, had already received her gift before she left for home. Taro smiled to himself as he made his way toward the dorms’ entrance when a familiar figure came in from the cold.

Bundled in a cozy-looking fur-lined jacket was Lilly, guiding herself along with her cane whilst holding a gift bag in her free hand. Taro went to wave instinctively but thought better of himself.

“Hey Lilly.” Taro called out and Lilly’s head twitched upwards from it’s slightly downward angle.

“Taro? Is that you?” Lilly questioned, her expression becoming puzzled.

“Yup. Don’t worry, you didn’t walk into the wrong dorms. I was just dropping off some presents.” He explained and Lilly stopped when her cane tapped his ankle lightly.

“That’s lovely. I hope everyone enjoyed them.” She smiled sincerely and Taro nodded before realising he’d done it again. Out of everyone, he found it most difficult to communicate with Lilly. The sly looks and smirks he was used to exchanging with his friend group had no meaning for a blind person so he was constantly having to rethink his approach with her.

“They did. Well, mostly. I left Saki’s and your pictures with Kaori so you’ll have to let me know what you think.”

“I’ll be sure to do that. I didn’t know you knew Kaori.”

“I don’t; just helped her with a door.” Taro chuckled a little to himself. “Anyways, take care and have a good Christmas, yeah?”

“To you as well, Taro.”

The pair bowed their heads to each other and continued on their opposite yet parallel journeys.


Just a goofy little writing exercise for myself and it turned into a combination of mine and Razoredge's worlds. Hope ya'll enjoyed it!


Re: Sharp-O's One-Shots! "Hazemyth" 24/12/23

Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 7:20 pm
by hdkv

That was the best recommendation for me to finally read Beyond the Haze. Also, comfy.

Merry Christmas, Sharp-O!


Re: Sharp-O's One-Shots! "Ecstasy in Motion" 29/12/23

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2023 1:23 pm
by Sharp-O

The Universe In Ecstatic Motion, According to Emi Ibarazaki by Feurox

Gotcha! Feurox and I attempted to write in each others' styles for these New Years stories. Much love to him for a brilliant idea and you all for being wonderful rubes :wink:


Re: Sharp-O's One-Shots! "Ecstasy in Motion" 29/12/23

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2023 3:34 pm
by hdkv

Awwww, why so bittersweet :)

Miki carrying around vodka bottle is awfully in character for her, lol.

Until you paired Emi with Akio I thought this was another *myth story. Anyway, nice one-shot!

Happy New Year!


Re: Sharp-O's One-Shots! "Ecstasy in Motion" 29/12/23

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2023 6:01 pm
by Sharp-O
hdkv wrote: Fri Dec 29, 2023 3:34 pm

Until you paired Emi with Akio I thought this was another *myth story. Anyway, nice one-shot!

This is the problem any time I use Taro, Akio, et al :lol: While I will often use those characters, it's not always a Myth story lol


Re: Sharp-O's One-Shots! "Ecstasy in Motion" 29/12/23

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2023 2:40 pm
by StealthyWolf

Really enjoyed this short! I think the interpretation that this is a bittersweet story erring on the side of sadness is valid, but that's not how I interpret it. Sure, there's a bit of mourning to be had with the loss of what could have been - the good times that slipped through their fingers - but there's also hope to be had with what could be. Emi and Akio clearly know that they made mistakes in the past, and that they still do care for each other, but I think it's unlikely they'll make the same mistake a second time. It might take a bit, but given the right motivation and drive (which they both seem to have in plenty), a second chance at a future could work out for them. That's just how I read it anyways.

As always the character interactions were fluid, fun, and natural with a lot of implications involved. I loved Miki and Emi's dynamic. There's a fine line it's walking between best friend/sibling level relationship and best friend that flirts just a liiiitle to much for it to just be a joke type relationship (That or the implication is that they have experimented with each other in the past and decided it wasn't where they wanted their relation ship to go, seeing as both characters are commonly depicted as Bi).

Then Taro and Miki are walking the fine line between just having fun until maybe it turns into something real or the fun finally fades and the possibility that one of them gets hurt (likely miki?) when the other finds someone to settle down with finally.

The history/future of this verse is fun to interpret, and honestly I could probably keep going but I think that's the end of what's directly relevant here. Great story Sharp-O. As always, keep it up!


Re: Sharp-O's One-Shots! "Ecstasy in Motion" 29/12/23

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2023 5:29 pm
by Sharp-O

Cheers, Stealth! Emi is a character that I haven't played with extensively so putting her in amongst a somewhat familiar cast really helped me define how she'd bounce off the others. I've been leaning toward and focusing more toward raw emotions recently rather than playful banter and it's great that people have been enjoying it and encouraging it 8)


Re: Sharp-O's One-Shots! "Ecstasy in Motion" 29/12/23

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2024 11:20 am
by Mirage_GSM

I see Akio and I kissing...
I see Akio and I eating

"Akio and me" in both cases.

Miki carrying around vodka bottle is awfully in character for her, lol.

Though probably a bit unnecessary, considering Taro has a whole nightclub in his appartment :-)

I also would not necessarily call this story "bittersweet" - just "open-ended".


Re: Sharp-O's One-Shots! "A Matter of Memory" 05/01/24

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2024 10:00 am
by Sharp-O

The pure present is an ungraspable advance of the past devouring the future. In truth, all sensation is already memory. To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly. - Henri Bergson, Matter and Memory

Image

“I don’t appreciate the theatrics, Hanako…” I gripe in a quiet tone to my pseudo-date, tugging at the bowtie around my neck as if it were a noose that was slowly choking me.

The idea seemed almost appealing when I first caught sight of my ex-girlfriend ten minutes ago but when I realised this had to be my former classmate’s idea; I thought about throttling her instead. The darkest parts of my imagination conjured worse but I would never entertain those, no matter how painful this evening may end up being.

“I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about, Mr Nakai. And remember; it’s ‘Ikaneko’ while we’re here.” The up-and-coming young adult author sways merrily with a drink in her gloved hand. Her asymmetrical attire only accentuates her mysterious masquerade amongst the other costumed party-goers.

“You know exactly what I mean.” I adjust the crimson mask on my own face, unsure how unrecognisable I might be compared to Hanako, whose faded mask of make-up and unusual dress affords her a degree of anonymity even amongst her co-workers. I gelled my hair back but now I’m feeling very conscious about how well it’ll keep its integrity. “Misaki’s going to spot me a mile away. Especially with that lens of hers.”

“Misaki is here for a job; not for you. She needed the work and I happened to know my editor wanted some professional photos taken of the New Year’s Gala.” Hanako rolls her eyes as she pulls a few bangs from the slicked-back body of hair and drapes them across my vision. “Paranoia doesn’t suit you, Hisao.”

“It’s not paranoia when you are clearly out to get me.” I narrow my eyes at my raven-haired friend before offering a smirk.

“Now why would I ever be out to get you?” She smirks back knowingly and I’m reminded of the numerous times I’ve tried to set her up with some of the nicer guys in my teaching class. The types that Hanako might take to for her usual reasons; their humour or their smarts. I can never seem to pick a good one though, much to Hanako’s amusement.

“Okay, fair point but if you’ll excuse me, Ms Ikaneko…” I bow with an elaborate flourish - an act that Hanako giggles at and reciprocates with a slight curtsy. “I’m going to make like a Lagrange point and get the hell out of your orbit before you attract trouble.”

“Go find Mrs Yamato; she loves when young men talk nerdy to her!” Hanako calls after me and I have to suppress the desire to flip her the bird. Hanako is a long way from the shy girl I met once upon a time ago and what I’ve discovered is an immensely childish, yet sadistic, sense of playfulness.

It’s not hard to think back on my time at Yamaku six years ago; that summer that seemed to last forever. That crawled along like a tired beetle along a baking log. That changed my life forever. I can’t really remember how I fell in with the Newspaper Club alongside Hanako but I do recall when I first truly met Misaki Kawana.

“You’re in my shot.” The navy-haired girl said in an annoyed tone while simultaneously taking a photo of me, the audible shutter noise chittering inches from my face. When pressed on why she did that, she said it wasn’t a big deal, she’d taken photos of me before. I remember being annoyed at being photographed without my permission but Hanako explained it’s just what Misaki does and that there was no arguing with her.

“She’s right, y’know. It’s like, uh, freedom of the press.” Misaki smirked smugly but when I asked if she was part of the Newspaper Club, she laughed. She had a really nice laugh.

“That rag-sheet? Hell no. No offence, Hana.”

I shake the memory out of my mind as the bartender places a tumbler of whiskey in front of me. I take it in hand and scan the room as I lean against the bar. I find Hanako speaking with an older gentleman in a rather plain suit and tie with a feathered mask. It’s hardly the most lavish party but even those of us on a meagre budget managed to conjure up more than that. The plainly-dressed Misaki, on the other hand, is no where in sight which worries me no end.

Feeling a bit more exposed than I’d prefer, I down my drink and head towards the stairs to the upper lobby level. The publisher’s building isn’t the most modern but it is nicely designed with glass and steel. Aesthetics was never my thing, something Misaki would always point out to me.

“And what does a dutch angle do to a cinder block, Shutterbug?” I asked, frowning as Misaki got onto her stomach and rolled from side-to-side, taking shots of a grey brick from different angles. I didn’t understand then and I still don’t now.

“Soooo many things, Hisao. Trust the process.” She said, rolling onto her back and offering her free hand up to me while holding her camera in the other. I grabbed her hand with both of mine and pulled her up with more force than I really intended. She stumbled forward when she got to her feet. Despite all my concerns about my heart, my body moved to catch her and I did.

Time stood still as I held that dusty girl in my arms and we stared into each other's eyes. Her arms were braced against my shoulders while I held her forearms. The sound of her shutter going off right next to my face startled me enough that I stumbled backwards. Her free hand caught my shoulder and drew me back in, closer than last time.

“Guess that makes us even, huh.” Misaki chuckled, blushing as our noses practically touched. I don’t remember what compelled me to kiss her at that moment but it felt right at the time. And a bunch of other times after that. Until it didn’t.

I haul my body up the last few steps using the hand-railing. My chest heaves a little more heavily than is normal for that amount of stairs but the sharp pain in my chest and shoulder, along with the pulsing throb in the back of my head helps me diagnose the problem; I’m having an anxiety attack.

I take a seat on a nearby bench outside someone’s office, leaning against the cool wall and begin the recovery routine I developed for these situations. I reach for my phone and text Hanako; letting her know the situation and where I am. I close my eyes and begin a slow breathing exercise as I focus on the soft ambient jazz music in the lobby below.

I’m going to be out of commission for a while but hopefully Hanako will get here soon. I hate to drag her away from her own work party but I remind myself that this is her fault, really.

“I c-c-can’t be blamed f-f-for your f-failures, Hisao.” Hanako chided. Even with the remnants of her stutter, her new-found confidence in herself was something to behold. She handed my English comprehension paper back to me with a disapproving shake of her head. “I c-can only blame m-myself as your tu-tutor.”

“Nah, let him sink or swim, Hana.” Misaki smirked, snapping a picture of the two of us. “If Hisao can’t focus on what’s really important then that’s on him.”

I shot Misaki a look I often did; a look that conveyed my utter disbelief at her own lack of accountability in my then failing grades. She was the one who dragged me out into the setting sun of the fields surrounding Yamaku to get the perfect magic hour shot when I was supposed to be studying.

I didn’t know it at the time but she was setting the stage for the next step of our fledgling relationship. Something that I would never forget.

I rub the muscle cluster just below my clavicle and above my armpit. That specific pain tells me I’m not actually dying of a heart attack like the anxiety is telling me. A psychosomatic trick of the mind and body. It’s amazing how the two in tandem can betray you into thinking the worst… Though as an all-too familiar sound of a shutter firing off makes my eyes snap open - I feel I could have another heart attack all-too soon.

“You okay, mister?” A navy-haired woman asks as her lowering camera reveals a concerned look on her face. There’s Misaki. Looking as amazing as ever. “Had one too many?”

And I guess she doesn’t recognise me in this get-up after all… All that worrying for nothing. I nod rapidly, closing my eyes once again.

“Just needed a breather… And for the room to stop spinning.” I say through gritted teeth, the timbre of my voice lower than usual due to the pain.

“Need water or anything?” Misaki asks but my reclusive rescuer finally makes her entrance. Always with the theatrics.

“I have water for the poor fellow right here, Ms Photographer!” Hanako says in a very strange voice. Like she’s upper-class or royalty. She takes a seat next to me where her exposed face is hidden by the monolith-like pauldron that hides her burn scars.

“That’s good; he looks like he’s seen a ghost.” Misaki breathes a sigh of relief and turns away for a moment to take a shot of the crowd from this vantage point. I take the opportunity to raise a confused eyebrow at Hanako, who can only nod solemnly as she hands the glass of water to me.

“Ms Photographer, have you seen the darling young power couple near the tree? The blonde and the brunette in mirrored outfits?” Hanako asks, waltzing over to Misaki and pointing off to the far end of the room.

“Huh? Oh, those two? They’re a couple? Coulda fooled me.” Misaki shrugged, causing Hanako to laugh.

“I know! I wouldn’t have thought so either but if you get a good look at the brunette, you’ll notice she has heterochromia.”

“Really? Think I need to go get a picture of that then! Thanks for the tip.” Misaki grinned and trotted toward the stairs, taking them one-by-one like I often saw her do at school. I can’t really tell through her working attire but given her upright posture, I have to assume she’s wearing her corrective brace.

Hanako tilts her head upward, watching Misaki disappear down the stairs before allowing her own posture to slump as she steps towards me. Her exasperated expression meets mine and before she can even speak, I have to ask.

“What is this?” I asked as I studied the strange bundle of spandex and straps that Misaki’s uniform blouse was hiding. She shrugged the garment off her shoulders and spin a little on the spot, allowing me a full three-sixty of her torso.

When Misaki said she wanted to show me something and began to undo the buttons of her blouse, I was honestly expecting way more flesh than I saw on display that evening. She chuckled as she explained she was part of a trial for the apparatus she was wearing; a SpineCor corrective brace.

“I told you I have scoliosis, Hisao. This is the reason I don’t look like a hunchback most of the time.”

“So you have to wear that all the time?” I asked, stepping forward when Misaki offered her hand out and guided mine to the various straps. She knew I had a passing fascination with the assistance devices that people used and allowed me to touch and ask about hers. It was all very intimate.

“I have to wear it for around twenty hours a day; even when sleeping.”

“And it doesn’t hurt?”

“It…” She paused and looked down. I couldn’t see her face but I imagined it was sad at the time, though when I reached out to it, I only found a bittersweet smile. “It takes some getting used to.”

I nodded with a small degree of understanding. I loosened my tie and began to unbutton my own shirt, her eyes became laser-focused on my hands as I exposed my chest, and my scar, to her for the first time.

“It’s beautiful, Hisao…” A coy little smile played on her lips as she looked up at my face and back to my chest. She reached out and ran a slender finger along its length as she pressed herself against me. Again, it all felt very intimate. “You’re beautiful.”

“I wasn’t l-l-lying when I said this w-wasn’t about y-you, Hisao.” Hanako sighs in annoyance as she plops down next to me, her chin resting on her hands. The tell-tale nervous stammer returning is a sure sign that whatever her plan was hasn’t worked.

“She didn’t recognise either of us.” I state the obvious and Hanako nods in agreement.

“N-nope. And you’re h-hardly incognito. No amount of gel is taming that d-doinker you have.” She waggles her finger towards my head and, sure enough, I can feel an obvious flip of hair defying gravity.

“Then what the hell is going on?”

“After… everything that happened…” Hanako shoots me a guilty look, as if bringing it up will somehow hurt me more than it already has. “I kept in contact with Misaki as best I could but eventually she stopped answering my messages. It was around then that her parents started talking to me. Giving me the odd update.”

“Well, you do have a way with parental figures.” I chuckle a little and Hanako tilts her head in begrudging acknowledgement. I don’t think I’ve met a parent of a Yamaku student who didn’t immediately take to Hanako. I know my parents did.

“But Misaki’s not been herself. Not since…” Again, Hanako looks at me guiltily. It wasn’t her fault but she can’t help but feel bad for what happened to me. Again. The memory is seared into my brain in the same way that a certain winter under a certain tree is.

Being caught up in a spontaneous moment, passion igniting as bodies are pressed together. Sudden, familiar, pain. Pain surged through my body as the air escaped my lungs. Panicked eyes met each other amongst tall grass and diffused magic hour light. Exposed, sweaty flesh feeling colder than it should and a desperate cry for help was the last thing I heard as everything went dark.

The next thing I remembered was the stark contrast of the cold fluorescent lights of the hospital compared to the golden hues of the fields. The next after that was fresh pains along my upper torso and arms as I came back to the land of the living.

“H-H-Hisao?” A quiet voice, somewhere else in the room. Familiar. Hanako. My view adjusted as the bed’s motors moved to raise me into a sitting position and I saw my parents and Hanako looking back at me. I couldn’t speak, my throat was so dry. Over the next few hours, I was let in on the mystery of what had happened to me.

I’d had another heart attack. I’d died in that field and Hanako, somehow, had saved my life. I now had a pacemaker and had been in the hospital for the better part of six months. I’d lost another six months of my life to another heart attack. To another girl.

The one who wasn’t there. I never saw Misaki again.

“I don’t think any of us have really been the same since that summer.” I offer solemnly with an appreciative pat of Hanako’s back. Words cannot express what she means to me but ‘family’ is the best descriptor I have for what we are now.

“No, I mean… Misaki doesn’t remember going to Yamaku at all.”

I stare at Hanako for longer than she would usually be comfortable with but the fact that she keeps her eyes on mine makes my blood run cold with realisation.

“What?” I double-take, shaking my head and breaking eye contact. The disbelief and anger in my voice radiates from the core of my follow-up question. “How?”

Hanako takes my hand in hers, as readily as she did back when she visited me in the hospital. After Lilly left, I like to think I helped Hanako adjust and to broaden her horizons but, if I’m really honest with myself, it’s when I became dependent on her that she came into her own.

Like a lioness protecting an injured cub, she helped me through what could have been the thing that destroyed me. Eventually, we found a way to support each other. She’s my best friend in the whole world.

“Misaki’s parents told me that a few weeks after she withdrew from Yamaku… Misaki had a nervous breakdown. She was so convinced that she’d killed you, despite being told otherwise, she… snapped.” Hanako explains calmly as my grip tightens.

If I’m hurting her, she doesn’t give it away, only looking on with the same look of compassion she had when she would visit in the hospital.

“But she seemed fine just now…” I say and Hanako shakes her head.

“She is from her perspective. She remembers her childhood, her condition, how to use a camera, everything that is Misaki Kawana; except the two-and-a-half years she spent at Yamaku. The most she recalls is that she went to a boring boarding school.”

“That’s… Fucking insane!” I growl incredulously. Whatever feelings of anxiety remained were now replaced with a growing anger as I stand, fists balled. “I lost another six months of my life in another fucking hospital because of her and she doesn’t even remember!”

“Hey! She lost two-and-a-half years b-b-because of you so l-let’s not start measuring trauma-dicks!” Hanako snaps, tugging me back around to face her. “I get y-your angry but don’t act like you didn’t play a p-p-part in this t-t-too.”

“What the hell, Hanako? You’re victim-blaming?!” I should really know better than to argue with her; she’s real mean when she’s angry but she’s out of line.

“You’re not b-blameless, Hisao.” She folds her arms across her chest, defiantly.

“Fu-” I almost get a curse out when Hanako interrupts me.

“You knew what g-going to that field with her w-would mean and you were moooore than willing. Couldn’t wipe the stupid smile off your face if I tried!”

“I…” Can’t argue with that. Hanako was more than privy to a lot of my relationship with Misaki. I hesitate to call her a third wheel but…

“This isn’t like Iwanako when you didn’t know sh-shit. You knew the risks and so did she. Both of you were prepared but it still w-w-went bad and you both suffered.”

“But at least I still remember it! All the pain, all of my recovery time, having to take all those catch-up exams! It’s not fair!”

“And she doesn’t remember her friends! She doesn’t have any memories of you or your time together. Your excursions into the city, to the art gallery, to the aquarium.” Hanako reels off many of my dates with Misaki with a pointed finger pressed into my shoulder. “Hell, I know more about her first kiss than she does.”

That… That stings. I cast my gaze down and try to imagine not knowing the people I met at Yamaku. Hanako, Nattie and Naomi, Akio… Even the others that… I couldn’t imagine not-knowing any of them. It would feel like there’s a hole in the world. I hope that’s not what Misaki feels.

“Does that sound like a fair thing to you, Hisao?” Hanako’s hand reaches for my face and I meet her eyes - those soothing pools of indigo.

“No… It doesn’t…” I answer quietly, resting my face in her palm.

“I’m sorry, Hisao. I didn’t mean to be so hard on you.” She offers a sympathetic smile and gestures towards the balcony overlooking the lobby. She links her arm with mine as she guides me to the railing.

“You were already dealing with s-so m-much… And after you made it clear you never wanted to see her again… I thought it best if I didn’t tell you.” Hanako’s face contorts into a sad frown. “I remember how sullen you were when we first met. I didn’t want to set you back to that or, god forbid, worse.”

I close my eyes and take a long breath, considering Hanako’s words with a little more thought and a little less emotion. I was already in a bad place and that knowledge would have made it so much worse. I agree with what she did…

“I get it. Thanks for looking out for me.” I smile at my best friend and she returns it in kind. “But now I really don’t buy that line about Misaki needing work.”

Hanako flashes her most mischievous grin and points out into the crowd. “Over there, the people I pointed out to her earlier. Do you recognise them?”

I look to where Hanako is pointing and see Misaki photographing two young women; one blonde, one brunette. Their outfits are mirrored versions of the other’s and their masks are much the same. I then remember what Hanako had said about the brunette and the penny drops.

“Are they…?” I look to Hanako, who nods affirmatively before gesturing to a red-haired gentleman in a compound bug-eye mask. Then to a sandy brown-haired woman in a butterfly mask.

“Natsume. Naomi. Akio. Ikuno. Basically anyone within the industry and could get here on short-notice. Takashi couldn’t make it, unfortunately.” Hanako explains and I finally see the scale of her plan.

“Was this all one of your elaborate ruses to get her memories back?” I ask. Hanako’s smile fades as she breathes a sad little sigh and shakes her head.

“No. Well, maybe a little, but I knew that’d be unlikely. But this… This is everyone I could get hold of. Everyone who could be here.”

I know Miki moved back home to the country. Molly, Misha, and Lilly are all in different countries…

“Damn.” I add, mournfully remembering those of us that didn’t make it at all. Lezard, Taro, Suzu…

“We’ve lost touch with so many of our friends, Hisao… Do you see why I invited Misaki now?” Hanako asks and I nod, smirking at Hanako’s clever gambit. Ever the game player.

“I do… ‘From this day to the ending of the world, but we in it shall be remember’d…’” I quote Shakespeare and Hanako doesn’t disappoint me as she finishes the quote.
“‘We few, we happy few, we band of brothers’.” She smirks before resting her head on my shoulder. “I just wanted to get as many of us together as I could. One last time.”

“What d-d-do you mean?” I turn her to face me, worried what she could mean. Hanako blinks in confusion before raising a hand to her mouth.

“Oh! N-n-no! There’s n-n-nothing wrong, I just…” I breathe a sigh of relief as Hanako hugs me. “It was hard enough coordinating this. I just wanted us all to have one good memory to remember each other. Even Misaki.”

I wrap my arms around my best friend and squeeze her tight, eliciting one of her cute little ‘eeps’.

“You clever little sneak.” I chuckle, releasing her.

“H-hey! I resemble that remark.” Hanako purses her lips indignantly as she turns. “So what say we go make a few good memories, Hisao?”

“Do I take it you’re finally going to take a run at Akio? I know you always had a crush on him.” I tease my friend, joining her at the top of the stairs. Her wide-eye blush tells me I’m right on the money.

“D-d-don’t you dare try to set me up with th-that j-jackass!”

“Methinks the lady protests too much… I seem to recall you saying he made you laugh.” I shrug as I begin to descend the stairs. Hanako slinks a step behind me, staring daggers. We reach the bottom of the stairs and share a laugh.

“You’re in my shot.” My laughter dies as my blood runs cold. A familiar voice with an even more familiar phrase. If my neck could creak as I looked over my shoulder; I’m sure it would.

“Oh, s-sorry!” I mutter, stepping behind Misaki, out of her line of sight. Hanako gestures toward Misaki with her head as she mixes-in with the crowd and disappears. I watch Misaki go about her work and see the hallmarks of her process, including how she tilts the camera for more dynamic angles.

I look out at the crowd, at all these masked strangers and then back at a woman that I was very close to a long time ago. It feels wrong to wear a mask with her, even if she doesn’t recognise the face beneath it. I remove the crimson mask from my face, rubbing the indents where the elastic pressed into my flesh, and step towards Misaki.

“So what’s a dutch angle doing for the crowd tonight?” I ask, a neutral but curious expression on my face as Misaki looks down at me from the third step of the stairs I just descended. Her face tilts ever-so slightly at my bare face before returning to looking through her viewfinder.

“Hm? Oh, not much, but static crowd shots can be real boring. Wanted to offer something a little different to the client.” Misaki answers. “Know much about photography?”

“Not really, I just remember a few terms someone taught me at school. I know it’s not as easy as point-and-shoot with you photography types. It’s all about the process.” I say, knowing full well that I’m using her own words. I don’t know what I hope to accomplish by invoking the past but a small part of me hopes that she’ll recognise me or maybe someone else at the very least.

“Yeah, the process. Hm.” She lowers the camera for a second, a small look of contemplation on her face as she looks at the screen on the back of her camera. She looks at me again, with the scrutinising gaze I recognise before her eyes widen a little. Does she…

“Sorry, mister, I didn’t realise it was you. You feeling better now?”

“I am, thank you.” I look down with a bitter smile. “I think the mask was on too tight.”

“It’s why I declined to wear one. I don’t like feeling… Confined.” Misaki admits, rolling her shoulders a little. She gestures with her camera toward the other side of the room with a brilliant smile. “Anyway, glad you’re feeling better but I need to crack on with the assignment.”

“Of course, sorry to take up so much of your time.” I hold my hands up and take a step back. I slip my crimson mask back on with a resigned sigh. “Nice meeting you, Shutterbug.”

As I blend into the crowd, I watch as her enthusiastic smile doesn’t fade. I’m glad for that, if nothing else. Regardless if she doesn’t remember me; Misaki is, and always will be, Misaki.

And that’s the memory that truly matters.


No, I'm not stealing Feurox's work; I did actually write this piece in an attempt to emulate Feurox's style and he did much the same with his story The Universe In Ecstatic Motion, According to Emi Ibarazaki which I posted as Ecstasy in Motion. Hope you enjoyed both stories and our little New Years ruse :wink: