The Beauty Of Her Eyes Astonished Me To Start With. It Felt As If Only Her Eyes Were Living Even Though

The beauty of her eyes astonished me to start with. It felt as if only her eyes were living even though her body was on the brink of death, however, her desolate beauty disturbed my mind. Until now I have never encountered eyes with such a frightening charm. I would have been content even if my soul was entirely snatched away by her glance.

Ōkura Teruko, “Bewitching Shadows”

I hate people like that. They’re quick to spy out the hearts of others, and then they sit there grinning to themselves with a knowing look. Abominable filth. They’re laughing at how hard the rest of us try.

Dazai Osamu, A New Hamlet

Chuuya: what the fuck are you looking at?

Dazai, on the inside: You’re so beautiful and I'm so in love with every part of you. The curve of your mouth when you laugh while you're having a good fight. How you stand leaning on your side with your hands in your pocket. The way your hair shines like the sun and how you always blush when I get too close. I’m so lucky to have you. You are the greatest person I’ve ever met and I will never regret meeting you. I would find you and love you in every lifetime.

Dazai, out loud: You got shorter.

Poor Dazai...

the first thing I thought about after reading 118

What lives in the sea is not mermaids; what lives in the sea is only waves.

Under the north sea’s cloudy sky, waves here and there bare their teeth, cursing the sky. No-one knows when the curse will expire.

- Nakahara Chūya, “North Sea” from The Poems of Nakahara Chūya