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Latest Entry
Great Manga Titles
After a year of being on here, I’ve noticed that more often than not, that many users might already have an idea on what anime they like, but haven’t a clue when it comes to manga. As such, there are some suggestions listed below based on what you might like:
Do you like extremely long titles that get released rather frequently, along with a unique Shounen twist in it? If so, you might actually be more interested in Manhwa (Korean manga pretty much). Here are a few titles that you might want to start off with:
Tower of God
This is quite an interesting title as there are so many plot twists, and has great fight scenes and character development as well. As many titles that run for a long time, it does start to make quite a few of the characters more generic past around chapter 180 or so.
Magician
The first Manhwa I’ve ever read. It has an excellent blend of adventure and action, and does quite well with world building. Like Tower of God though, it starts to make some characters more generic later on, but sadly, I would say that it does it more so than Tower of God. Ah, and I need to mention, don’t let the artwork at the beginning turn you off, it gets better rather quickly.
However, maybe a long running action/adventure story really isn’t your thing, and you’re looking for something more relaxing. These few titles are slice of life, and are quite relaxing (and quite cute as well).
Love So Life
I’ve only just started reading this one, so I can’t actually say too much about it, but everything about the manga so far is really heartwarming. I think one of the main reasons why I like it so much is the MCs flashbacks are a lot darker than the story itself which helps contrast and explain certain decisions she might make during the present.
Nukoduke!
A story about little cat people called Nukos who live with their owner Yuuya and their every day lives. Its a rather short manga as it has very few pages per chapter, and really doesn’t focus too much on character development, but rather just being an extremely cute slice of life.
Finally, maybe you are looking to read a high school manga, but are tired of cliches that have been done before.
Relife
This is an amazing manga. It starts out quite a bit different from your typical high school setting since the MC is ten years older than everyone else at high school. I found it rather enjoyable, and a bit nostalgic as well, as it does a much better job at creating a high school atmosphere than most other stories do. Not only that, but all of the characters are well developed and have their own realistic problems.
Well, that’s it for recommendations for now. I’ll probably come around again in a bit and make another list that focuses on supernatural and romance next time. Thanks for reading! 🙂
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Latest Entry
Anime that will make you rethink your life
So in my experience of watching anime I have been deemed a feels addict. I have been all over the battlefield that is anime. These are some of the titles I have seen that will make you think about things you never thought you would think about by the end of them.
1. Your Lie in April
Without spoiling anything, this anime is about a boy who plays piano and the things he needs to overcome to keep playing. The setting is amazing, the art is wonderful, and the story it tells is one that you will remember. By the end of this anime, you will have rolled through so many different emotions that you won’t no what you are doing any more. I Highly recommend Your Lie in April.
2. Say I Love You
Say I Love you is about an outcast girl who meets the most popular guy in school and he falls for her. At this point you are thinking greeaaaat, another romance anime, but this title is more than that. It tells the story of how an outcast is able to make new friends, build trust in others, and forge new relationships and feel things she has never felt before. This anime will take you on a 13 episode emotional roller coaster and leave you smiling at the end.
3. Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions is a very light hearted anime that delves into some interesting topics to say the least. This anime starts off nice and easy and then brings you into the feels zone. You will laugh and cry with the characters and generally be glued to the screen. This anime will make you feel very happy at the end and it will also teach you some lessons, such as to accept people as they are.
And so ends this list. If you like this list and would like to see another please let me know. I had fun writing this and I would very much enjoy writing another. See ya!
Sincerely,
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Latest Entry
Underated anime
There are great animes out their like 91 days and twin tails and others but their underated.
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Latest Entry
Anime changed our lives
Before my friends and I started watching anime we were just people who would play sports everyday talk and so on we didn't do much in our lives really...
Until one day my friends came back with a happy look one their faces different then most days they told me they watched something called "Anime" they began telling me how it was like how amazing and how amazing it was. Later that night I decided to watch anime for myself so I did I watched Totoro once I finished watching the movie it felt like i changed into a whole new person. The next day I told my friends I watched anime from their we found different new amines together such as
Totoro
Fairy tail
Naruto
Boruto
Angel beats
Attack on Titan
Tokyo ghoul
My hero Academia
Promised Neverland
One piece
Dragon ball z
Pokemon
Your lie in April
Kimi no na wa
and many more I have to say anime has brought me closer with my friends and has taught me so much like to all ways follow your dreams the life of a human sorrow and much more.
I'm really glad I started watching anime when I did now I know over 100 anime's. I'll continue to watch anime as there is so much more I still haven't watched yet!
Anyway that's all bye
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Latest Entry
Inside and out ~ The power of cosplay
Cosplay has been a part of many peoples lives for some time now. What was once a daft little past-time where high-schoolers would wear a cheap costume-shop wig and a garment hastily put together with hot glue, to these amazing full armour builds and becoming internet famous and even making careers out of it, cosplay surely has gone a long way, hasn't it?
We all seen these amazing fictional characters on our TV screens. Whether it be 2D animation or a character model in a game it is as if we are constantly 'feeling' all kinds of textures with our own eyes. It is amazing how animation works to use clothing and hair to create a sense a realism that blends beautifully within the game's/show's environment.
'Wow, his scarf is floating in the wind.'
Cosplayers can look at a character and compare a character's costume to real life physics. Sometimes the materials are hard and shiny, which is what is typical in armour. Other times there might be stripes or patterns. Maybe its pleated or wavy. You cant physically touch it for yourself but just by looking you can absolutely tell! Its amazing how one can translate something from fiction to real life.
These people can take days, weeks, months, even years, to create a costume. They can also be brought too. Some newcomers might just see costume making as sewing but in reality that is only part of the hobby. Cosplayers make props, they learn makeup, style wigs, create armour, jewellery, accessories and surprisingly many of these people are self-taught.
'But I cant sew...'
That is ok! We all have to start somewhere! No one becomes an expert over night. I have been cosplaying for 12 years and I am still learning. I still make mistakes all the time and there is a lot of sewing jargon I dont understand the definition of. I have been learning as I go along. There are plenty of tutorials online, and maybe you have friends or family that can help. Maybe just buy some clothes from a thrift ship and alter them, like dye or paint them.
Not only there is the joy of the creation process, but also the sense of achievement of completing the costume! It doesnt end here! Consider showing your work off at a convention! The best feeling ever is making people happy because they got to meet their favourite character!
Share the happiness! Its a hobby that makes many people happy!
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Latest Entry
Stupid Stuff
Yesterday I met a man who, while giving me some pennies, started to make some derogatory remarks about the character on the pennies. Now, his camo overalls and other aspects of his appearance led me to assume he was one of many rednecks who live in my area, the majority of which I think are decent people. But after the remark about the pennies I knew this guy was on a whole different level.
I told him, "That's Abe Lincoln, you know."
Then he says something like, "Oh, I don't pay any attention to that stuff. It's all stupid!" And goes on to show me a tattoo with 'A' for anarchy.
He went on to say justice was for wimps, and after that I stopped paying attention.
I'm nothing close to a history buff, but I thought knowing the political figures on American currency was basic knowledge for American citizens.
I guess I was the stupid one for setting my expectations so high.
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Latest Entry
An Intact Fossilized Shell, Found on my Doorstep!
I'm kind of, fascinated with old stuff. REALLY old stuff. And while I've never found anything particularly outstanding to other people maybe, i always treasure what i do find.
and today, i wasn't really expecting to find anything! i was just out in my backyard garden, picking through stones from the freshly cultivated soil, because i do find a lot of gemstones in my garden after hoeing it, and i think they're pretty. i kind of have a little of collection of them.
but then i saw something that caught my eye, a bright red rock with something sticking out of it. and at first i thought it was just like, another type of rock mixed in with the red rock, but when i picked it up and looked closer, i knew what i was seeing was the back end of a fully-intact shell. and i was like, wow! i have to break this thing open. Sure I could've kept it the way it was, but i knew inside were probably layers of more shell fragments that were more interesting to look at to add to my collection. So I grabbed a hammer, and split the thing in half, and this is what i found.
I'd never found anything containing a fossil fully intact before...just the ghostly remnants of an imprint of something no longer there. but look, there it is, that's a fully intact shell.
how cool is that! you can see lots of other bits of imprints of shells that are no long there, too, all over the stone, which is what most of my rocks look like. But holy cow, this shell is still here. And it's not the only one. Theres a couple here and there, sticking out in different ends of the rock.
I like to go out and hunt for stuff like this, because it's fun. But I never expected to find a fossil sitting in my own backyard.
These are the other interesting fossils ive acquired
the imprinted leaves I actually got at a festival in one of those old-fashioned towns, that kind of preserves the way it used to be when it was founded in the 1800s.
The limestone to the right of it is a block of a bunch of shell fragment and coral imprints, theres a fossilized reed in there i found on my grandpas property as a little kid,
and i found this one a couple years ago while camping out in the woods.
anyways, i was SO super stoked about this, i just had to post something.
Also I noticed my blog title was kind of similar to someone elses, so i tried changing it, but im not very creative LOL
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Latest Entry
Sugar and Spice & Everything nice
Sugar and Spice & Everything nice, that’s what Fall is made of.
When it comes to a favorite fall beverage, do you go on a hunt for the perfect Pumpkin spiced beverage?
Or are you after a hot apple cider?
To me, there’s nothing better than a steaming cup of spiced apple cider to warm you up on a chilly day. It started when I was little, taking a tour of an old historic township, where they displayed old fashioned mills and field games. Once we finished the tour, we lined up for a glass of warm old fashioned cider. The experience was one of a kind, and I find myself wanting to go back to have another taste of that famous cider. Or at least, my hunt for a good cider continues year after year to find a pleasing memory.
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Top 5 Survival Games That’ll Make You Rethink Life
5. Death Parade
Okay, I know this isn’t exactly what you would call a Survival Game, but it’s somewhat similar to it.–
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Psychological
Episodes: 12
Aired: Jan 2015 – Mar 2015
The anime plays in the bar Quin Decim and follows a bartender, who makes his guests play games for their life – well, that’s what they think. But in reality they’re already dead and in the afterlife, competing against each other to see who deserves to go up or down.
The 2 competitors are always related in some way, but they lose their memories about how they died and can only gain them back, if they play the game. This gives the anime a good dose of drama and you notice how you start feeling with the characters after just one episode.4. Deadman Wonderland
This anime stayed in my memory mostly because of the character designs – not only did they have very unique looks, but their personalities also differ.–
Episodes: 12
Aired: Apr 2011 – Jul 2011
Genres: ManglobeThe teenage boy Ganta is sentenced to death after he was the only survivor when a mysterious man killed every student of his class. He then has to go to the craziest prison you’ve ever seen – Deadman Wonderland.
The prisoners of this disturbing place are forced to compete against each other in many different death matches.
3. Danganronpa: The Animation
I never thought this anime would actually become one of my favorite animes so far. The mix of mystery and survival game is great and makes you want to continue after you’ve finished an episode.–
Genres: Mystery, Psychological, Thriller
Episodes: 13
Aired: Jul 2013 – Sep 2013
Naegi Makoto was invited to enter a high school for people with special talents – even though he has none.
Soon enough this school turns out to be a survival game: 15 students are captured and the only way to get out is to kill someone without anybody noticing. But if someone finds out, you die.2. Mirai Nikki
The anime, that is famous for its yandere character, Yuno Gasai.–
Genres: Action, Mystery, Psychological, Thriller
Aired: Okt 2011 – Apr 2012
Episodes: 26
The story follows the student Yukki, who writes everything he sees around him in his phone diary. One day he gets a strange message from his imaginary friend, that he is supposed to participate in a survival game.If you’re the last participant alive, you become the God of time and space. Later he finds out, that his diary can suddenly tell the future – but he’s not the only one who owns something as powerful as that; Every participant has their own unique diary, that gives them a different advantage or disadvantage in battles.
1. Btooom!
No matter how often I watch this anime, it never gets boring!–
Genres: Action, Psychological
Episodes: 12
Aired: Okt 2012 – Dec 2012
Ryouta is a NEET – he doesn’t go to school, doesn’t have a job, the only thing that is on his mind is the famous game Btooom. In this game you try to kill people with different types of bombs.Suddenly Ryouta finds himself on an island with many people trying to kill each other. He then finds out that somebody he knows sent him there to die. But there is still one chance to get out of this survival game: You have to kill seven people. And the only weapon you have is bombs – just like in Btooom.
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Latest Entry
Otakutalks 1
helloooo! welcome to my new blog, as you may have already figured out I have no experience in this kind of stuff, but I hope you can enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it. as an introduction I'd like to say that I'm a cosplayer and my favourite anime is Charlotte (I'll make a review on that later). I have a normal life but I don't really have anyone to talk about anime (sad I know) I'll try to write something interesting weekly, make reviews and show you stuff I draw. please leave a comment, I would really like to know your opinion about this future blog. !
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Latest Entry
Chapter 2: Fifteen Years Later
Audio version here:
The assembled mourners sat frozen, their faces masks of disbelief and confusion.
Minutes crawled by before anyone dared to move.
Finally, a middle-aged man who appeared to be a relative approached Ayame with cautious steps. His face bore the strained expression of someone trying to manage an impossible situation.
He leaned close to her ear, his voice barely audible as he whispered what seemed to be words of comfort and control.
Ayame’s response was immediate and defiant. She pulled back from him, her grip tightening on the microphone that had become her weapon of truth.
“I’m fine. I’m not tired at all. I don’t need more sleep,” she declared, her voice crackling through the speakers as the microphone caught every word of her protest.
A woman, presumably another relative, hurried forward to join the intervention.
She moved with practiced efficiency, placing her hand over the microphone to muffle any further outbursts before whispering urgently into Ayame’s other ear.
Her movements suggested this wasn’t the first time she’d had to manage a family crisis.
The male relative reached for the microphone, his fingers closing around it as he attempted to wrestle it from Ayame’s determined grasp. She fought back with surprising strength. The struggle was brief but intense.
The female relative joined the effort, and together they managed to pry the microphone from Ayame’s hands.
Victory came at a cost. Ayame remained visibly agitated, her eyes blazing with rage and frustration as the male relative placed a firm but gentle hand on her arm, guiding her away.
The female relative quickly assumed control of the situation, bringing the microphone to her lips with the ease of someone accustomed to public speaking.
“I’m sorry for that,” she began, her tone measured and diplomatic.
She paused, choosing her next words with visible care.
“Ayame hasn’t been sleeping well lately. Which is understandable. It’s still a shock what Makoto did.”
She continued her damage control, weaving a narrative that would allow everyone to return to their comfortable assumptions.
Ayame was simply a grieving mother, overwhelmed by loss and unable to accept the harsh reality of her son’s suicide. Her outburst was nothing more than the desperate denial of a broken heart.
The crowd began to settle, their collective tension easing as they embraced the explanation offered to them. Heads nodded in understanding, and whispered conversations resumed. The normal rhythms of a wake gradually reasserted themselves.
But not everyone was so easily convinced.
Five pairs of eyes met in a moment of silent communication. Misao, Kiyoshi, Nara, Junichi, and Makiko exchanged glances that spoke volumes without uttering a single word.
The quiet café that Misao had mentioned earlier provided a blunt contrast to the chaos they had just left behind.
The wake had finally concluded, and the five friends now found themselves in the establishment’s warm embrace.
The café enveloped them with its cozy atmosphere. Soft lighting cast golden pools across wooden tables and chairs that had been crafted by artisans. The ambiance was almost hypnotic in its tranquility, designed to lull visitors into a state of peaceful meditation.
Through the large glass windows, trees and plants pressed closed to the glass, creating the illusion that the café existed in a magical ancient forest.
“Are you kidding me? A thousand yen for a cup of coffee?!” Junichi exclaimed, his loud laugh boomed through the quiet café, and caused a few heads to turn.
“I could buy a whole meal for my parents with that!” He slumped into his chair.
Nara, seated across from him, gave a direct glance, her expression unamused. “It’s called inflation, Junichi. And quality. This is a premium café.”
Misao, seated to Junichi’s right, merely observed them. She took a slow sip of her Gyokuro tea.
She hadn’t seen or spoken to Nara in years. And though they used to be best friends, the tension also lingered between them from their senior high school days.
Misao saw Junichi still as a big brother and appreciated his efforts.
Makiko, sitting next to Misao on the same side of the table, gave a gentle giggle, covering her mouth with her hand.
She always ran to Junichi when she was scared or nervous in high school. Knowing he was kind.
But now, she seemed a little nervous around Kiyoshi, who was engrossed in his phone, and barely acknowledged their presence.
Kiyoshi remained largely silent, slouched in his chair across Misao, fiddled with his phone, and avoided eye contact.
“It’s good to see everyone, even under these circumstances,” Misao finally said, her words carefully chosen. “It’s been too long.”
Junichi, still scanning the menu, sighed dramatically. “So long that coffee prices shot through the roof, it seems.” He looked up at Misao, a faint admiration in his eyes.
“So, what are we going to do? Just catch up?”
The question stirred something in Misao’s memory. She paused, her gaze drifted past the polished glass walls of the café, lost for a moment in the echo of a younger voice.
“Misao, what are we going to do?”
The late afternoon sun streamed through the windows of the Hiroo Senior High School’s Detective club room. Casting long shadows across the overflowing bookshelves and cluttered table.
It was their first meeting of the year, a new beginning after spring break. As was their tradition, Misao, club president, stood by the board.
“Misao, what are we going to do?” Asked Junichi, already sprawled in his chair, half-eaten snack in hand.
Misao gives him a gentle smile, “Welcome back, everyone. First meeting of the year! You know the drill,” she announced, her voice soft but clear.
“Let’s go around. Tell us about your spring break. Anything interesting happen? Any exciting plans for the school year?”
Junichi was the first to practically burst forward. “Oh, me, me! I went to watch the Spring Koshien baseball tournament! Man, the energy was insane! I almost cried during the final match, but don’t tell anyone,” he said, letting out a loud, full-body laugh that vibrated through the room causing the dust motes in the sunlight to dance.
“For this year, I’m gonna hit the weights even harder! Gotta keep this body in shape!” He flexed an arm, grinning widely.
Next was Nara, already organized, her notes laid out on the table like a battle plan. Her expression was precise. “My break was efficiently utilized. I completed a deep dive into the latest advancements in quantum computing ethics. As for the school year, my goal is to maintain academic perfection and prepare for university entrance exams, specifically focusing on advanced logic and AI modules.”
She offered no further anecdotes, her words as clipped and direct as ever.
Makiko, looked up, a faint blush on her cheeks. Her movements were light and quick.
“Oh, um, I mostly stayed home. I re-read some of my favorite poetry collections, and tried out some new herb tea blends,” she said, her voice soft and polite, a slight nervous tremor making her speak a little faster.
“I… I also visited a few new cafes. For the school year, I just hope to… to understand people better. And maybe not cry so much,” she added, giving a gentle giggle, as she covered her mouth with her hand.
Kiyoshi, perpetually hunched over his handheld console, barely looked up. “Spring break… upgraded the firmware of my PSP. Optimized my home network,” he mumbled, his voice monotone. He paused, then added, almost as an afterthought, “Planning to… make more software this year”.
Misao listened to each of them, a warmth spreading through her chest. This was her favorite part.
The clatter of a coffee cup brought Misao back to the present. The café hummed around them. She looked at Junichi, his earlier liveliness now softened by a rare, quiet moment.
“What are we going to do?”
A faint, quiet laugh escaped Misao, almost under her breath.
“You know,” she said, her voice deliberate, cutting through the lingering tension. “We used to do this at our first club meeting every year.” She looked around at each of them, a knowing glint in her eye.
“Let’s go around. Update everyone. What have you all been doing these past fifteen years?”
Junichi exhaled loudly, a playful grimace on his face.
“You’re still pulling that trick, Misao?” He then reached for a croissant on the table, tearing into it with gusto, crumbs scattering onto his shirt.
“Alright, alright. Fair enough. Since you asked… I’m a private body guard now. Travel a bit for work, mostly in the port cities. Still sending most of my earnings home to the folks, you know?”
He ran a hand through his hair, the faint scent of cheap body spray wafting across the table.
“Still trying to make ends meet, but hey, at least I get to, uh, protect people. Like the big brother I always was,” he winked, in the direction of Misao and Nara.
Nara, adjusted her smart watch, her gaze direct as she spoke. “I am a logic university professor at Hanakaze University. My work primarily involves advanced AI and computational ethics. It’s intellectually stimulating.”
She took a measured sip from her matcha milkshake and offered no further details.
Makiko, gave another gentle giggle. “Oh, um, I’m a freelancer interpreter and translator. Japanese, English, Korean. It’s… it’s a lot of work, and sometimes I get a little anxious about money,” she admitted, her voice polite.
She brought a small cup of Sencha tea to her lips, inhaling the aroma before taking a slow, mindful sip. “But I also get to read a lot, and try new herb teas! I even found a new café recently that has the most wonderful jasmine blend.”
Her eyes sparkled a little.
Kiyoshi, still hunched over his phone, finally mumbled, almost under his breath, “Freelance cybersecurity consultant. White hat hacking. Pays the bills. Keeps me… indoors.” He gave a rare, nasal chuckle.
Embarrassed by the sound, he retreated back into his phone, shying away from eye contact.
Misao smiled, a quiet, brief curve of her lips. “And me? I’m an NGO investigator, specializing in corruption in Asia.”
She took another slow sip of her Gyokuro tea, observing her friends. “It involves a lot of travel, but it’s fulfilling. Chasing the truth, you know?”
As they continued to talk, the initial awkwardness began to melt away. Junichi recounted a comical incident from a bodyguard assignment, eliciting a rare, amused glance from Nara, and Makiko’s gentle giggles turned into a full, heartfelt laughter, her hand still covering her mouth.
Even Kiyoshi offered a dry, almost witty comment about the inefficiencies of corporate networks, earning a surprised, almost approving nod from Nara.
Misao felt a warmth spread through her chest. A familiar yet forgotten feeling. Something she never knew she missed, until now, fifteen years later.
The air lightened considerably, filled with chatter and laughter.
Junichi, looked around the table, his earlier laughter fading. “So, what was that about, anyway?” he asked, his voice now serious.
“Makoto’s mom… saying he was murdered? The police said it was suicide, right? No foul play involved?”
He leaned forward, his brow furrowed in confusion.
Nara, set down her shake with a soft clink. “That’s correct, Junichi. According to all public news reports and the official police investigation, Makoto Kure’s death was ruled a suicide. There was no foul play determined.” Her voice was flat, devoid of emotion, simply relaying facts.
Makiko, with a somber frown, leaned slightly forward, clutching her steaming cup of tea as if for comfort.
“Yes, that’s what the news said. I… I remember reading about it. It was last August 5th, a concerned citizen called the police after seeing what looked like a corpse hanging from a tree in Momozono Park here in Kanezawa.”
Her voice grew softer, a nervous tremor returning. “It turned out to be Makoto. They also found a suicide note. And… the autopsy confirmed he died from hanging.”
She took a hurried, almost breathless sip of her tea, her eyes wide with the remembered details.
Kiyoshi, who had been absently sipping his espresso and scrolling through his phone, finally looked up, his gaze darting between his friends before settling on the table.
“Yeah, it’s all over social media right now. People are pretty divided,” he mumbled, his voice a low drone. “Some are just, like, factual. Thinking Makoto’s mom was just emotional, you know, couldn’t accept it. But then there are the conspiracy theorists. They started questioning everything. Saying it had to be murder.”
He shrugged, taking another swig of his espresso.
Nara scoffed. “Nowadays, conspiracy theories are abundant because of the world we live in. Flat earth and all that. That kind of stuff,” she stated, her tone dismissive. “So it’s not a surprise that people want to turn this into something else. Something more exciting. Human beings crave drama, even in tragedy.”
Misao, however, remained quiet for a moment, her gaze distant, as if sifting through invisible threads of thought.
“I… I think Makoto’s mom, was being sincere when she made that outrageous claim,” she finally said. “She really believes it. Whether it’s true or not, her conviction was absolute.”
Makiko’s eyes, still reflecting a deep unease, locked onto Misao’s. Her politeness, seemed to crack slightly.
“But… why? Why would Makoto do it? I just… I can’t stop thinking about it. What was he like, before all this? Before… before he died? What was he like back in senior high?” she asked, her voice gaining a desperate edge.
“And what about now? He was a self-help influencer, right? Talking about overcoming trauma? It just doesn’t make sense.” She wrung her hands slightly, her anxiety evident.
Junichi frowned, trying to remember. He finished a roll cake and reached for another, but stopped himself, his appetite momentarily forgotten.
“Makoto… he was always a bit of a delinquent in senior high,” he mused, a thoughtful look on his face. “Friendly enough on the surface. But there was always something… beneath it. He was tight with Takehiro Takeshita, remember? They hung around a lot. I heard he became a big shot, talking about mental health stuff, but… it’s ironic, isn’t it?”
His brow furrowed deeper, a rare moment of genuine introspection.
Nara tapped on her smartwatch, a flicker of something almost like impatience crossing her precise features.
“He had a public persona, Makiko. People construct narratives. His social media presence, as a self-help influencer, was designed to present a particular image of overcoming adversity. It’s not necessarily indicative of his true psychological state or private struggles.”
She then turned her direct gaze to Makiko.
“You are allowing emotion to cloud your judgment. This is not logical. We are discussing facts.”
Makiko flinched slightly at Nara’s bluntness, her polite demeanor struggling.
“But… it’s not just facts, Nara. People don’t just disappear without reasons!” She insisted, her voice rising slightly, a burst of faster talking as her nervousness took over.
“There’s always a reason for someone to give up. To… to commit suicide. I just want to understand why he would choose that. What led him there? I want to understand what Makoto was like inside.”
Her quiet tears, threatened to surface.
She was right, Misao thought to herself, a quiet throbbing beneath her ribs. People don’t just disappear without reasons. Especially not Makoto, with a past like his, and a mother so fiercely convinced of foul play. There was something here, something being hidden.
The familiar urge, the pull towards truth and justice, began to stir within her.
But then, a subtle stab in her chest, a faint wave of fatigue, reminded her.
The debate raged internally, a silent conflict between her drive and the fragile reality.
The other debate between Nara and Makiko continued, Nara trying to pull Makiko back to logic, Makiko insisting on empathy and understanding the human element.
Kiyoshi, meanwhile, had retreated back to his phone. Junichi was now just listening, his usual energy subdued by the gravity of the discussion.
Misao’s eyes, however, sharpened. The external debate, the internal one, all coalesced into a singular, undeniable conviction. She set her teacup down with a faint, decisive sound, interrupting the rising tension. Her voice, though still soft, cut through the air with an unexpected clarity, capturing everyone’s attention.
“I feel Makoto’s mom is not lying,” Misao stated, her gaze sweeping across each of her friends, holding their eyes.
“And investigating a little wouldn’t hurt.”
A smile touched her lips, a spark igniting in her usually reserved demeanor.
“Hiroo Detective Club… the game is afoot.”
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Latest Entry
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch Review
Oh boy. This is going to be hard to talk about...
...or that's what I thought at the beginning, before I watched the first five seconds of this episode. It pretty much spoiled the main gimmick of what made this episode 'special'. In short: it's an interactive movie.
That being said, it's a nice gimmick that's sure to get thousands, perhaps millions of people to finally subscribe to Netflix, right?
Right?
Whoopsie! One month free trial. Whoopsie! Cancelled immediately after finishing watching the episode. Whoopsie! So much for the piracy-aversion countermeasure, AKA PAC(man) [an acronym that's surely going to be important during the interactive episode]. Whoopsie!
But jokes aside, it's not a bad story. However, you could definitely feel that Black Mirror has lost its shine ever since season 3, especially when they had to incorporate such a "socially relevant" gimmick to get with the times, when games with choices are all the rage. Being an interactive movie, its central theme is naturally... can anyone guess? That's right - fate and destiny! Definitely wouldn't have seen that coming!
But to be fair, aside from one ending focusing on such a theme (and feeling like something outta that mediocre "Butterfly Effect" movie, a guilty pleasure of mine), it's also mixed with a few other themes as well. Because of our ability to control the actions of the protagonist, the story even goes meta a little bit and delve into parallel realities, and even delusion and insanity. So there's quite a bit of a mash-up of themes here that can feel oddly unsatisfying depending on the ending you reach. Personally, the most satisfying "ending" I reached was the aforementioned one that deals with fate. In the terms of a visual novel, you could even call it "the true ending" since it feels like it's the one that bears the most "closure". Furthermore, it's also the ending that feels the most like an ordinary Black Mirror cynical ending.
So what's my verdict on this? 7/10. Nice gimmick, and a good attempt to improve on the future of streaming services. I do feel tempted to encourage more interactive movies like this in the future, but at the same time, I can also see that it's a very problematic way of writing a story, and can leave the viewer unsatisfied depending on the kind of ending they reached, or the amount of time they spent to reach it. I spent at least four hours just rewinding the episode, hoping to get a happier ending.
Alas, such is not the nature of the twisted world that is Black Mirror.
Footnote: Hype for season 5 regardless! I'm still excited for the new episodes!
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Latest Entry
Five Great Starter Anime
We all have to start somewhere and it’s not easy with so much great anime out there , it makes it a little hard to choose what we want to start with.
There are many genre’s to choose from and depending on where people start they may have a fractured view on the world of anime , especially if the first is not to their liking , so the first is quite important.In that regard it is important that the first should have a large enough range so that you can find some part of it to your liking and from there find out more about your own taste in anime , knowing what you like in movies series and books helps quite a lot as well as you can direct yourself more towards what you know you like and develop your palate from there.
For instance , if you like romance you start off watching romance and as you go on you diverge into romance + mech , romance + supernatural , romance + SoL and so on so that you can find something that you enjoy and from there explore the new genre that you have an interest in and grow more interest in anime as a whole.No one ever stops changing so your current favorite series or genre might not always be the same but if you explore and find more that you enjoy you will never find yourself unable to enjoy anime as there will always be something that will interest you.
Here are a few anime I believe are great for new anime fans or people who want to start watching anime.
[In no particular order]Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso
Drama , Romance , Music , School
This series shows a lot of emotion and is a great starting point if you enjoy drama , music or romance. The music is also brilliant and if you enjoy the music genre it will not disappoint.Magi -The Labyrinth of Magic
Action , Adventure , Fantasy , Shounen
This series has a lot of action , adventure and magic and is a great starting point if you enjoy fantasy. In addition to it’s brilliantly done fight scenes it has some powerful scenes that tug at your emotions.Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica
Drama , Magic , Psychological , Thriller , Magic Girl
This series is a great place to start for people who want to get into the Magical Girl genre as it is both a brilliant Magical Girl anime and has a serious tone to it that allows even those that are not fans of the genre to truly enjoy it. It is also a brilliant thriller and psychological theme anime and should not be overlooked even if you doubt Magical Girl anime.Bakemonogatari
Mystery , Romance , Supernatural , Vampire
This series is a grate starting place if you enjoy mystery or the supernatural. The use of the vampire genre is not over used , though not forgotten or neglected and the series is that much stronger because of it.Love Hina
Comedy , Ecchi , Harem , Romance , Shounen , Slice of Life
This series is a great place to start if you enjoy the comedy , SoL , ecchi , romance , or harem genre’s. The comedy is great and the harem and ecchi scenes are done well all while being grounded in real life so that it is not too outlandish. -
Latest Entry
My rollercoaster lifè
So what I am going to talk about in this blog I think we can all learn something from it. And I don’t really tell people this story but I thought why not as it might be useful for some people. Also this is my first blog so mind the grammar
My life up to midway through high school has just spiralled down to darkness. Yeah high school was very dark times for me. So how did I end up down there I will tell you now. I am not there now so relax
Firstly when I was about 8 I came to England with my family only because most of my Mumzy’s relatives were here also that I could experience better education. I left my country my dad left his parents there and I left my friends there. Of course over time my dad started to loose his temper because he felt bad leaving his parents. But the only reason they allowed us to go so I can get good grades. Yeah that was a lot of pressure I felt throughout my school life. Everyone had high hopes for me.
During my primary school I was the smartest in the class so education didn’t concern me. What really concerned me was I started realising we don’t have much money. Everyone in my school had cool stuff and I felt left out as I didn’t have any. My parents used to say it’s waste of money but I had realised we were on a budget. Towards the end of primary school I realised we live in a council house my dad had troubles with Work and it was low paying. He couldn’t get a good job as they didn’t ‘want to’ accept his foreign degree.
We were pretty poor as our house was squat we didn’t have anything good and etc. This got worse when my Mumzy gave up on Work. There was a time when we were homeless for one day then were given a house.
All this being poor being treated differently and the pressure of getting good grades is what made me switch to the dark side as I started to crave for money. Now I am in first year of high school. This high school was a bad place to be as they were bad people here. This is where I heard about making money through drug dealing. I manage to make friends but not the good ones. They were loyal but they also talk about gangs and drug deal but we were all still ignorant then. This made me peak my interest in gang culture. Overtime us friends started to get our hands on some drugs. Some of my friends were already dealing as they’re brothers was a big shot.
It was year nine when my arrogance was at its peak. Before year nine my parents used to think I was a good boy as I did everything behind their backs. My dad still working hard so I have a comfortable life for good education. But In year nine I started living the thug life. Making Money, looking tough and fame was all I was. Bunking school so I can deal some drugs, smoking in schools field with some of my friends bringing thoes sort of things to school. And one day I went so far to bring a pocket knife to school (don’t ask why). I got caught with the knife and several other things like a vape and liquids and a roll up tobacco. My parents got called into school and this is where I started to realise the things I was doing was bad for me and my parents. In that meeting my Mumzy cried and my dad was dissapointed and upset. I could tell It was in my parents mind that what was my child doing all this time (as they did constantly ask me if I was okay). Also asking themselves How ignorant could we have been. This made me realise the actions I took had a big effect on my parents as they love me enough to give up their own well-being for mine
After that I stoped smoking and dealing and tried to get my grades up as they had fallen below 0. I still hanged out with some of my friends who didn’t smoke or deal but they still were very bad people as they liked to fight and do gang things but they we’re still loyal friends. I still acted like a thug but slowly I had started to mature. I started hanging out with my friends less and less because my uncle gave me soo much knowledge and wisdom I had grown soo mature. I started to see the world differently.
However, The event that completly changed me into a good warm person was in year 10. I was hanging out with my friends In the evening. We were walking in the highstreet and one of my friend saw a homeless guy just smiling at him. Forsome reason that smile of the homeless guy pissed my friend off so he went up to him and started to throw food at him then skittles and encourage the guy to fight him. All the homeless guy did was just smile whilst food and skittles were getting thrown at his face.
I looked at that homeless man and realised how privileged I am. He looked like someone’s dad and he was homeless. This showed me people are in a worse situation then me. I can’t imagine to feel the amount of pain he feels and he shouldn’t get treated like this. I was once homeless for a day and didn’t feel good at all he is homeless for a long time. He is also all alone in the street side not bothering anyone he has nothing nobody he is nothing to the society and he’s just smiling after all that. His face gave a hint of peace something I was not in I have been soo irritated for all my life but I shouldnt have I shouldn’t have hated everything. He is homeless but he is in a better overall mood than me. He does not want to deal drugs make money do other very bad things to smile he is just smiling.
Then my mind had shifted and realised the homeless man was getting treated like an animal by my friend. Is this how we humans behave. Was I really friends with this parasite. That time so much anger and sadness was boiling up within me I just wanted to beat up my friend but i just resisted and just waited for him to leave so after that I sat down next to the homeless man. And we just talked and he was a very nice person. He had more knowledge of everything than me. His life story and his ideals made me cry a little. This also had shifted my perspective of the world dramatically.
After that I was always nice. Giving money to homeless and not in greed with money. I start saying money comes and goes. My dad got a very high paying job though some links and we got a new house. Life In general has improved soo much especially my dark side which, infact I didn’t got into much detail, to a nice person. This also had made me very social. I Made new friends But I don’t think I could ever make as loyal friends as those ones I had. They have also changed a lot but still no to them as they still kind of get in trouble with minor things.
And now I am just trying to keep my parents happy as I have caused them soo much pain in the past. Acctualy everyday I tell my Mumzy sorry and how much i love her. This is because she showed the most sadness and me and my dad don’t talk much.
There was a lot of things I missed out. If this was useful or interesting to you then I might re write it with everything in it and making more sense.
And again sorry for the grammar because I was writing as I was thinking. Soo I don’t forget things.
And yeah this is a conclusion of part of my life. Now I am just living life to the fullest.
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Black Desert Online Remastered
Hi to all! Ever heard of the game Black Desert Online? It's one of the most visually stunning MMOs that came out. Recently the remastered update was released wherein the game has been improved on once again.
This MMO is a buy to play game; it means you need to buy one of their "packages" so you can have full access. I had bought the most affordable (read cheapest lol) package they have and so far I am enjoying myself. I hope you get to try it too. I encourage you to give it a try. It's free to access right now until the 5th of September.
Now while I am gushing about this game, like all else, there is no perfect game and there are also flaws that I would be discussing on. If you have some insight, please feel free to share it to me, too.
So here we go. I'll keep it short and sweet.
Graphics: 3.5 out of 5 stars
As I said above, it is visually stunning, especially now that the remastered update was released. The world (and Black Desert Online is an open world game so you can expect it to be quite wide) is lovingly rendered that you can waste time just admiring the scenery. The characters and costumes are well detailed too. In fact, you can design your character to look like a famous character. This may eat up your time when you're designing your ideal husbando or waifu. Lol
With that said, the remastered graphics will only work with high-end PCs. So if you're using a potato PC (I find that expression cute
) then you might want to think twice about upgrading. The graphics can be intense at times too and I find my eyes watering from time to time. 
Audio: 4 out of 5
The soundtrack is simply amazing; sometimes I just close my eyes and listen. Depending on the situation it can be relaxing (during peacetime) or adrenaline-pumping (during battles).
Gameplay: 3 out of 5
Battles are dynamic; skills can be done by pressing a combination of keys (shift + right click for example) or you can be assigned to a skill slot (press 1 to throw a bolt of lightning).
Grinding exists here too! Yes, there is no escaping the grind, no matter what MMO you are playing. The good thing about Black Desert is there are a lot of things to do: I go AFK fishing while reading a manga or watching an anime at times. I can go on a joyride on my horse or boat, I can stay at home and cook food.
Quick warning: in-game currency has weight. So your character cannot be a walking storage with a hundred or more silver coins inside the pocket. You have to store everything in the warehouse which is available in every town.
Cash shop: 3 out of 5
Yes, there is a cash shop too. Games need to generate revenue too or else it will close. While Black Desert Online is not blatantly "pay to win" (there is no uber powerful weapon in the cash shop that I can buy with a swipe of the card) there are items, pets, and costumes that can make life easier. Not necessary as you can go by without it (like I do) but yeah who wants to tough it out?
Enhancement system: 2.5 out of 5
Like every MMO game, you need to enhance your equipment. While Black Desert Online is forgiving (your armor and weapons won't go bye-bye if you fail to enhance, but the durability drops) it's still a pain to enhance your gear to the level that you want. Like all games, you have to farm for the materials. Keep a pad of Stresstabs near you.
Story: 3 out of 5
Very linear, rarely any plot twists, can be skipped if you just want to grind but not recommended as completing a certain storyline or mission will give good rewards.
Overall: 4 out of 5
While not flawless, I would still recommend this to all my friends. You can get satisfaction just about everywhere, whether if you like battling against monsters, engage other players in duels, or just admiring the overall scenery and ambiance.
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Latest Entry
Philippine Local Chocolates
This are some of the chocolates you can find/try here, some became part of my childhood days.
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Latest Entry
The Minnesota Shuffle
The Minnesota Shuffle
Losing a place to live due to shady landlords, "Minnesota nice" - meaning passive-aggressive, manipulative, shady housemates, or getting the building bought from under you and the new owners taking over your lease, or you're a family getting kicked out with only a month notice which is the legal minimum requirement
Changing jobs due to management micromanaging, manipulative shady employers, ignorant coworkers.
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Latest Entry
Chasing dreams.
Watching anime from young taught me that dreaming is the most important thing you can do, and to chase your dreams you must be all in. The real world will give you many reasons to not chase your dreams. I want to before I die have my impact on this world. I want to make the world a better place. I chose this major because I was pressured by family. This major is slowly losing my interest, I want to do something tangible. I want to be a teacher/professor. Make learning fun again. I want to explore the world. Learn more. Knowledge is power after all. What sucks most is Having so many things that feel like they are on my shoulders. I am seeing the world deteriorate just like everyone. Revolution and Change will no longer be a thing. Because the system makes sure our lives aren't in danger but still drain us of our rights and free will. I feel like a conspiracy theorist. But this inability to chase my dreams is making life unlivable. Have to worry about so many things. I just want to learn forever. I want to teach the next generation the importance of taking in the beauty of people and this world. This world is supposed to be a blessing. One piece was such an important part of my growing up. So was Superman. I wish I could embody Luffy's freedom and Superman's ethics. Spread Love and Joy. Because Life is too short for everything to be doom and gloom.
It feels as if I am a Prisoner of proverty and to make money I must work for an unethical entity, The fortune 500 are the fortunate evil in this world. When I see foreign lands properly tax their people by using taxes for the benefit of their people, it brings hope to my heart, but deep down I know that the imperialist nation is most likely exploiting another nation. If we could just trade honestly and uplift each other the world will benefit. and an era for positive scientific discovery will flourish.
Karl Marx said, "The discovery of gold and silver in America, the extirpation, enslavement and entombment in mines of the aboriginal population, the beginning of the conquest and looting of the East Indies, the turning of Africa into a warren for the commercial hunting of black-skins, signalised the rosy dawn of the era of capitalist production. These idyllic proceedings are the chief momenta of primitive accumulation." (Das Kapital, Chapter 31) Marx described the beginning of the most proudly capitalist nation as built on the backs of slavery death and destruction of a people. Turning continents into "warrens" (dehumanizing africans) and using the people of said warrens as slaves. He mocked the idea that capitalism was built off of people who saved and moved their money smart. In capitalism someone is a loser and someone is a winner. The winner tending to be the one who exploits the loser. If a country is built off of this and then becomes the economic center of the world, the only way for the world to become a better place is to be rid of evil and restart. But in reality, the capitalist machine has a millennia of backup generators, even after its death it will come back like a zombie.So how can we as people be comfortable with the exploitation of others, and this earth? We should all be able to chase our dreams and love the world as the hippies intended, even though the hippies were really just people who used exoticism to fetishize the cultures their nations broke down to gain their power. It is almost as if they were spitting in the face of these nations when "embracing" the cultures of the lands they walked through.
I am not a Marxist, I am not a Capitalist. I am a human, A human who loves this world and it's people.
(DISCLAIMER: I used wiki quotes to find the quote and then read the chapter, I haven't read all of the capital nor do I own a copy)
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