Kiznaiver Fanfic- Empty Heart

Kiznaiver Fanfic- Empty Heart

Katsuhira often stayed up on the fringes of midnight while questioning what it was like to be normal:

To feel pain and emotion just like anyone else.

The ability to empathize with others was robbed from him several years prior by the very girl who often stirred his heart. Though his soul has grown cold, the flames that girl ignited in him never fully dwindled.

He wondered if this was the same feeling that Chidori clung to so desperately. Katsuhira was often confused by her antics, but he even noticed she treated him differently than she did anyone else. Perhaps he held the same place in her heart as "that girl" held in his.

Katsuhira endeavored to understand what semblance of emotion Chidori sparked in him. He yearned to know her pain and experience it as vividly as she did. Pain is what draws people together. Pain is what unites them into an inseparable bond. He would bleed for her just as she bled for him.

Jojolands Chapter 2 Review- The Japanese Man on Hawaii Island

This chapter has a slower pace than the previous one but still brings up some interesting tidbits that will surely be developed on. Chapter two begins with Jodio conducting a drug trade with a college girl, but he's suspicious about her true nature. Those suspicions turn out to be true when she reveals herself as an undercover cop. Jodio and Paco are busted and even more surprising is the return of two cops from the first chapter. I'm surprised Jodio didn't kill them despite how bloodlusted he was. A small piece of dialogue even implies he intentionally didn't kill them. I also find it weird they made a complete recovery in seemingly only a few days after they got brutalized so badly.

It's like everyone in Jojo has weird regeneration superpowers that never get commented on. The mustached cop is back to being the creepy bastard he is by telling Jodio how much he's looking forward to molesting him. Araki must be extra wild in this part cause this is two consecutive chapters of sexual assault right off the bat. Jodip doesn't let the cops phase him and he simply uses November Rain to wash away the drugs on hand.

We get a small scene where Jodio thinks back to the time he took a psychological evaluation at school and was diagnosed as a psychopath. This makes me extra confident he'll end up being a villain near the end of the series. Jodio is the most cold-blooded Joestar and has no remorse for what he does. His actions are even viler from a Japanese perspective which has a huge stigma against drugs. Either Jodio will realize he's a bastard and have a change of heart or go completely off the deep end. I'm excited to see either scenario play out cause it was be disappointing to have him remain the thug that he is.

Remember that crazy hotdog-loving wetsuit-wearing drug addict from before? He has a name and it's Usagi Aloha'oe. Usagi certainly stands out the most from the other characters due to his quirky yet laid-back personality and weird fashion sense( it's Jojo so that's not saying much but still). The gang travels to where the Japanese tourist lives and that's when Usagi pops out his stand: Matte Kudasai. I at first thought this was a rare Japanese song reference but it's actually from King Crimson. A King Crimson reference in an alternate universe version of Golden Wind? I'm calling it now, if Jodio doesn't turn evil then Usagi will turn out to be a traitor. I'm only half serious but it would be interesting for there to be a traitor in part when that was originally supposed to be Fugo's role. Matte Kudasai has the interesting ability of cloning an object if another person wishes for it. I love how everyone has stands perfectly suited to pulling off a heist. Even Jodio's stand can be used to wash away evidence and makes me think he'll serve as a crime scene cleaner.

At the tail end of this chapter comes quite possibly the biggest plot twist introduced in the sbr universe continuity. The Japanese tourist is none other than Rohan Kisbe! I can not exaggerate how unexpected this was. This may be an alternate universe Rohan but he looks exactly like his original universe self; something unprecedented among the other counterparts. This being the original Rohan would be even more insane yet fun. Rohan being in the new universe could explain why newer Thus spoke Rohan chapters are set in modern times despite that conflicting with part 4's setting. If that's the case, this is some Oda-level foreshadowing from Araki. I seriously hope Rohan met up with Josuke and Yasuho during the time skip. This could set them up to be heroic antagonists who face off against Jodio's gang. The drama just keeps getting better.

Magical Girl Raising Project Volume 1 Review : Dare to be Magical

Magical girls sure have it rough these days. It seems like gory death battles and agonizing despair is all they ever find themselves in. That's what schoolgirl Koyuki Himekawa learns after her favorite app game turns her into a real magical girl.

The concept of magical girls in a death game was something that immediately hooked me because it involved two genres I love. There are not enough dark Mahou shojo stories in the world and it's incredibly rare to have one as a light novel. The greatest strength of mgrp is the fact it's written from multiple perspectives. This allows readers to see how each girl copes with their grim reality and feel suspense as alliances and betrayals are born. Cranberry became my favorite character due to her sadistic lust for battle and expert use of her sound manipulation magic. La Pucelle is a close second due to his heroic bravery.

It would be impossible to talk about the characters without mentioning their stunning designs and creative abilities. Artist Maruino brought out her A game with her eye-catching costume designs. Ripple has a weird ninja/swimsuit fusion going on and Hardgore Alice looks like a gothic doll. Their abilities are also unique compared to the usual superpowers you see in fiction. Weiss' ability to conjure walls anywhere stood out for being surprisingly more useful than you'd expect.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel despite already watching the anime twice. The prose is written in a concise style that made reading a brisk experience free of filler. This brisk writing style leads to the story's main weakness of the fights being far too short. The battles often end as soon as they begin while the characters get killed off before readers get to know them. One fight happened entirely offscreen which I found to be sloppy writing. Later novels in the series thankfully rectify this by adding more details and characterization.

I definitely recommend this series for any reader in a battle royale or magical girl.

Verdict- Recommended. Stay magical.

Giant Robo: The Day My Boredom Died.

Wanna know something that never gets old? Saving the world from a league of supervillains with the power of an Egyptian giant robot and super-powered individuals! That's the premise of the Giant Robo OVA and oh boy is the execution glorious.

This seven episode series details the inexplicably badass adventures of Daisaku and the Experts of Justice as they face off against Big Fire, a secret society bent of world domination. With all the hamminess and ludicrous fight scenes, Giant Robo often feels like a Saturday morning cartoon with Hollywood movie levels of scale. Subtlety isn't a concept here. Everything is loud and in your face, just the way I like it.

The ensemble cast of characters is also incredibly endearing. Daisuku is an idyllic kid hero, Ginrei is a smooth operator who knows how to get what she wants, and chief Chugo is a suave piece of sexy eye candy that's the highlight of the entire ova for me. Big fire consists of villains who have so much fun being evil you can't bring yourself to hate them. A special mention goes to Alberto with his butt shaped hairdo who is as pompous as he is cool. Even his crony knows how to kick ass and give the heroes a threat. It's hard to believe that all of these characters are taken from Mitsuteru's Yokoyama various manga series cause this is the most organic(and badass) crossover I've ever seen.

Giant Robo is a retro-futurist masterpiece that combines everything awesome about the mecha genre.

How Yuki Hayashi Captured the Soul of Shaman King

It's no secret that Shaman King takes inspiration from a conglomerate of different cultures. You have the Ainu warrior Horohoro, the Itako Ana, the Taoist Ren, and many other characters of various heritage. With all these influences, how does one properly compose a soundtrack to compliment the themes of the manga?

Simple: Include everything.

Yuki Hayashi brings the cultural aspect of the series to the forefront with his experimental soundtrack.

Let us start with the main theme titled [SHAMAN KING]. The song begins with religious chanting only to be followed by traditional Japanese sounds and Yuki's signature triumphant orchestral score. This immediately establishes the vibe for the entire show; a story entrenched in the past and one based around spirituality.

[ Vorpal Dance] is the perfect complement to the angry Chinese brat that is Tao Ren. It's an aggressive rock tune accompanied by a Chinese flute tune that signifies Ren's brashness and his nobility. Despite the aggressive sound of the track, it still has a heroic feel to it which references Ren's softer side he usually keeps locked away.

Taking a break from tbe cultural aspects for a moment, we have [ Avalanche] which is unofficially Ryu's theme. It's a braggadocious( that's a word you don't see every day) rap-rock song that screams confidence and bravado. Its early 2000's feel holds a special place in my heart.

There's also [ Yoh Yoh!!], a laid-back hip-hop beat that somehow manages to organically add samisen guitar strings. It's the perfect compliment to Yoh Asakura's tranquil aura.

There are a lot more songs to be discussed but I'm not familiar enough with breaking down music to do it justice. Yuki Hayashi did a phenomenal job incorporating the thematic energy of shaman king into his music. Each song feels like it's telling a story rather than being background noise. The soundtrack shows why it's important for a composer to understand the project they're working on so that the music can work in tandem with the narrative.

Falsified Romance

The city of Brooklyn was coated in a thick layer of snow. School was closed, harsh winds were blowing and people wanted nothing more than to stay inside. Despite the cruel weather, Aria called Maxine over to her apartment to have a private chat. They only had so much time before Aria’s mom would return home. Maxine hung her snow-covered jacket by the door and met Aria in her bedroom.

“ You sounded really tense on the phone. Is everything ok?” Maxine asked.

Aria nervously paced around the room and looked at Maxine with moist eyes. “ No. Not really. I never expected this to happen but”- Aria paused to catch her breath-” I'm pregnant and Shawn is the father.”Aria wasn’t sure how she found the strength to say those words but she did.

Maxine’s eyes flared up before immediately slapping Aria across the face. Everyone nearby could hear the crack of the slap and some even turned on their phone cameras anticipating a fight. Aria slowly rubbed her cheek and tried to keep her temper in check. She didn't want to fight her friend. She knew it would only make things even worse.

“What happened to you Aria? We used to make fun of the type of girls who get knocked up in high school and promised not to end up like them. You were never a saint- nobody in this neighborhood is- but you were still better than who you are now. You know your mom can’t afford this baby and she’ll kill you if she finds out. Why would you be so stupid? It's not like I don't understand why you did it. I get it. Shawn is this charming guy with all this money and one day he has his eyes set on you. You probably thought he’d be your ticket outta here. Sorry to say this, but guys like him won't take you too far. You're only entertainment for him. He can find girls like you anywhere."

Aria rolled her eyes with her hands placed firmly on her hips.

“You wouldn't understand because you're still living the life I left behind. I don't need to fight other girls and steal their money like we used to do. Ever since Shawn and I met, he’s been taking care of me and mom even though she doesn't know anything. He loves me and protects me. I can't give him up for anything. I admit the pregnancy was definitely a mistake. We used protection so I have no idea how this happened.”

“Is this the same Shawn who disappeared as soon as he found out you were pregnant? Or maybe it's the other Shawn who’s been sleeping with other girls your entire relationship. He doesn't love you, Aria. You're just another girl he can play with and everyone can see it but you. Grow up!”

“ let's end things right here. If we keep talking we’ll end up fighting and I definitely don’t want that happening. Get outta here and give me some room to myself. I know you're trying to help me out but you’ve said too much.” Aria said.

“ Fine, I'll leave. If something  goes wrong don't come running to me for help.”

Maxine grabbed her coat and slammed the door behind her. Aria watched her walk away from her window as Maxine turned to look at her for a brief moment. There was too much distance to say for certain, but, Aria could've sworn she saw Maxine cry. Aria lay on her reflecting on the argument that ensued. She was angry yet she couldn't help feeling that she was in the wrong. She knew Shawn was a dangerous guy to hook up with but he was the first man that said he loved her. There was no father in her life to say those words and the boys in the neighborhood had lust for any female to cross their path. 

'Maybe I can still talk things out with him. If he really loves me, he won’t leave me to suffer like this. I’ll prove to Maxine she was wrong'.Even as the words entered her mind, Aria doubted that her situation would have such an easy solution. After about an hour of self-reflection, Aria put on her winter clothes and left her apartment. She would go to Shawn’s hideout and finally settle everything. When Aria boarded the bus, she reflected on everything Maxine said again. She didn't want to admit it, but she knew she really had changed. Growing up poor with a single mother, Aria had a reason to be angry since day one. She hated seeing her mom work so hard just to barely get by. She was exactly like the other moms in their housing project. Slaving away for nothing.

'I can't end up like her', Aria would often think to herself.  She'd rather be a criminal who stole from the wealthy than busting her back as a nurse in a local hospital with nothing to show for it. Being a blue-collared worker meant supporting a government that couldn't care less about you. Thieves are simply taking what’s due to them. The government loved to make life harder for poor people so it was only natural they pay the system back in kind.

It was that ideology that led her to Shawn. She was in a store, looking to grab some things off the shelves and run. There was barely anything left in the fridge at home and Aria's mom could only patiently wait for her next check. It was her first time shoplifting in a different neighborhood so she was anxious and out of place. She awkwardly stood in front of an aisle of food, her wobbling arms outstretched.  Before Aria could make a move she felt a big hand grab her by the shoulder.

“It’s too late to do any stealing. You've already made it too hot with all that fidgeting you did earlier. I know a good spot we can go to.”

Aria was prepared to be reprimanded by the store manager but instead, she got advice from local thug Shawn. The two hit it off smoothly after that. Shawn would get her fancy gifts she would show off to the girls in her gang. The fancy clothes and jewelry let everybody know that Aria was Shawn’s property. She wasn’t that “violent girl living in the projects” anymore. She felt special and was finally living a life worth living.

Shawn had moments where he could be terrifying though. There were days when he would get so angry and make Aria feel degraded. He would get into these moods where he couldn't help but insult Aria while reminding her where she came from. She had known about the other girls in his life but never came to terms with it. Yes, Shawn had fooled around with a countless amount of girls but Aria wanted to believe she was the special one. Delusions could only go so far, however. This insecurity would burrow in her mind and eat away at her self-esteem.

Aria could feel the dread building in her soul as she entered the old worn down brownstone. It was an ocean of snow outside yet this place felt colder than any winter to grace Brooklyn. Her ebony seemed to grow paler with every second she spent outside. Her nose was immediately assaulted with the stench of beer and weed. The floorboards looked like the entire city took turns stomping on them and the walls had more crack than the actual drug on the floor. Aria usually took pride in her Gucci jacket over her Armani Exchange sweater but now she just wanted to rip it off. It was the same reaction meat lovers have when they see slaughterhouses. They like the product but not how it's made. Aria glanced at the neat rows of white powder lined up to the sides. The same substance that paid for her wardrobe. She tiptoed up the stairs but it did any good. The loud creaky stairs were practically alarm bells. As soon as she hit the first step her eyes locked with Shawn, standing at the end of the hallway. A solid minute of absolute silence.

Shawn used to have a fire in his eyes that could fill most girls with warmth. The flame had long since kindled and it was an icy stare. They both knew what had to be said but the words were too shy to come out.

“We… we have to do something about this baby.” Aria’s voice was barely a whisper.

“YOU have to do something. I already told you I don't want nothing with that bastard child. You made your choice so don't try to bring me into it.”

“Excuse me?!?! We both played a part in this mess so don't you even dare play innocent. I need the abortion money.”

 Shawn traced his fingers across his temple, massaging the veins on the brink of bursting.

 “Look, you already pissed me off the other day coming out of nowhere talking about you pregnant. I don’t need you begging me for money.”

“It wasn’t the other day, it was two weeks ago! That’s how long you’ve been ignoring me. You need to take care of this baby. You know I can barely afford to take care of myself. Come with me to the hospital and pretend to be my dad so I can get this abortion already. I’m done with all the BS you’ve been giving me.” Said Aria

“Why you acting like I’m the only one who made this child? You’re the one who decided to get pregnant! We used protection and everything. You probably put a hole in the rubber to suck some more money outta me. The only thing girls in this neighborhood ever want is want is my money.”

Aria wanted to smack him but knew full well Shawn wouldn’t think twice about knocking her out. “I fell” wouldn’t get by her mom the second time.

“You’re taking care of this baby one way or another. All of this,” Aria said while pointing to the copious amounts of drugs, “is gonna get you in jail. I’ll keep quiet if you do me a small favor. Just something a would-be dad is supposed to do.

Shawn’s fists clenched as his cold stare morphed into a scowl. The fire’s back. Aria felt the walls close in as her ex leaped like a lion hunting prey. His massive hands gripped her by the collar and slammed her to the wall.

“I’ve had enough of all this baby drama. We’re done so stop trying to be part of my life. I’m gonna give you a real good reason to keep quiet. You ain't ever gon' open that shit talking mouth again.”

The air froze over when the police slammed open the front doors of the abandoned apartment. Men in blue came marching up the raggedy steps and now it was Shawn’s turn to be pinned down. Aria was stunned not by the police but at the sight of her mom and Maxine walking up the steps.

“She knows everything,” Maxine said with an apologetic look. It had barely been an hour since the fight yet Maxine still helped. 

“What kind of man are you? Alone in an apartment with a girl barely half your age.” One of the cops said as Shawn struggled with his cuffs.

Aria soon felt a warm embrace from her mom as she hugged with all her strength. Aliyah’s tears rolled down her daughter’s neck.

“I’m sorry mom. I’m sorry for everything. I ruined everything.”

"No, Aria, you didn’t. That man manipulated and abused you. It’s not your fault.  It’s not going to be easy but we can get through this. We’re taking this to court and suing him for everything he has.”

Aria shook her head. “Mom, you know we don’t have the money for a lawyer.”

“Yes, we do honey. The government will force the money out of him no matter what happens. Let’s just focus on you right now.”

The world outside was a harsh winter wonderland but with her mom and Maxine by her side, Aria felt true warmth for the first time in a while.

The days following the disaster flew by like the winter winds. Aliyah expressed her disappointment and anger at her daughter’s recklessness but was ultimately glad she was safe. The government Aria hated so much had siphoned the much-needed money out of Shawn who was currently rotting in jail with a statutory rape charge. Aria didn't understand the seriousness of the crime at the moment because she never felt assaulted but she know he had manipulated her.

There was still the dilemma of keeping the baby or getting an abortion. She didn't want anything to remind her of Shawn but killing something that was inside her seemed so harsh. After thinking about it, she realized she saw a pregnancy movie where the mom gets an abortion. The mom usually either gets talked out of it or is the one who shoots down the idea. The media is biased that way. There was no point in going through the pain of childbirth only to give the baby away so abortion was the bitter pill she would swallow.

When the procedure was done, Aria and her mom cried for what seemed like hours. Tears of joy for everything being over and tears of sadness for it having to come this far. Aliyah introduced aria to a support group in her hospital. It was for teenage victims of sexual assault and abuse. Aria was at first hesitant as she wanted to put everything behind her. Aliyah assured her that talking about the crisis she endured was the best way to move on. Aria reluctantly agreed and entered the program.

At first, it felt awkward talking to strangers about her life but with time it felt natural. She hadn’t realized how disturbing and cruel Shawn was until she looked at him with a retrospective. She wanted to cry her eyes out but didn’t want to look pathetic. Being part of the group let Aria see she was a victim and there were a lot of other girls who shared her pain. What’s more, is that every girl there had their own ambition. Some wanted to be fashion designers and others wanted to be singers. Aria never put much thought into what she wanted to be but now she had an idea. There are so many people in the world who feel directionless and abused just like she had been. She wanted to help those people and stop them from making the dumb choices she made. Whether she be a therapist, motivational speaker, or psychologist, Aria would heal the mental scars of those she met.