[Fuck shit damn, Harumasa can't say no to that. His heart is weak!]
If we really pad out the pining, this could be part one of a series!
Oh, maybe it's a genre shift after that~ I open up a flower shop to heal my broken heart by day, but the weird Goodwill, I dunno, gave me magical girl powers so now I've joined the rooftop cryptids by night. Totally messes up my sleep schedule, but the team drags me along anyway!
[Sorry Haru he's as insistent on happy endings in his fiction as ever. He's definitely kicking his feet in his chair as he sees the newest addition.]
Ohhh, a little out of left field, but I like it!
Maybe you decided to open the flower shop due to a conversation you had with the barista. You're trying to move on, but part of you always hopes they'll walk through the store's door.
Which you do see them again, but that's while you're disguised in your secret magical girl identity- so they don't recognize you! The classic predicament.
[Harumasa's okay with that. There's enough tragedy.]
More pining, more angst, I love it! Really building up to that payoff unless the dice mess with me again~
Oooo, yes, I like it! They fall for my magical girl persona, but they don't realize it's actually me. Yet they also can't move on from me, so they're in a constant battle between letting go and being happy with this "new" person or to still hold out hope of finding me for reconciliation.
We need a twist, though... can't make it too easy, right? All the good stories make them work for that catharsis.
Oh, I'm liking this! Maybe it's a mix of both a curse silencing me and a desire to protect them from the forces at play. I can't say it's actually me, but I'll still do what I can to protect them.
Maybe they find out about my real identity when I'm hurt badly enough to be knocked out of my magical girl form?
Haha, I like that idea. It actually reminds me of a story I heard once. About a human girl who pretended to be a goddess for centuries to save her people. She couldn't tell anyone the truth, because if she did, her people would be doomed. So she carried on with the act, day after day, never faltering no matter how much she surely wanted to. It's just a story, but I think about it a lot. Maybe there could be some less extreme element of that?
[Jun you fucking liar, you know damn well its real that your landlady's past]
Ohhh, I see what you're going for there, some hurt/comfort, right? That's always a good choice.
[For some reason, the story makes him think about the statue of the goddess in the harbor. Lonely yet determined....]
Hits pretty close to home for me, but maybe it'll be cathartic. It's just a story. Yet that doesn't take away how I can relate in part. After all, I'm pretty sure I'd sacrifice a lot for this future partner.
[He did so for the sake of his siblings out of love for them. It's easy to imagine Harumasa doing the same for whoever he falls in love with.]
Hmmm... maybe I can't tell them because if I do, the Big Bad will know somehow and make them an immediate target.
Exactly! By that point, it's earned h/c and that lets us talk about things, but does the will-they-won't-they continue while they process all of that or is this where the long-awaited confession happens?
I thought it would. Some of the best stories are ones you can relate to and find catharsis. Lots of people would focus on the tragedy of her situation, but I actually find her to be pretty inspiring. What strength and conviction she must've had to pull that off for so long. And the version I heard did end happy, so that was nice.
["the version he heard"]
Ohhh yeah, maybe the big bad is some kind of fae-like creature? And them finding out your True Name could be very dangerous.
That's good question. I think perhaps it'll continue because now you're torn between your love and your duty? How can you truly have a relationship while you're also protecting the world?
Hmm... Valid takeaways! There's a tragedy in the loneliness and pain she must've felt with only the love of her people sustaining her for a work they might never see. But there's also an inspiration in the strength of her character to continue on no matter what. Whether she's an unsung hero or vilified, she did what she did out of love. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet, other than feeling seen~ It's one that I'll remember, though.
[He's going to be thinking about it for a long time, certainly.]
I like that~!
Haha, good point! Maybe this is the point where I decide to try and fight back at the source. I can't fully destroy evil, but I can still drive it back for those I love!
But! That moment of recklessness is what leads me straight into the enemy's trap, and I'm taken hostage and have to rely on everyone else to save the day! That gives my love interest the chance to show that they're willing to be brave in the face of danger for me~
Mm, you're right. There's many different things to take away from the story. Do you think it's better if her efforts are recognized by the people, or is it better to leave the results speak for themselves? Good, I thought you'd like it.
[Just wait until the day Haru figures out that Jun's "stories" are a bit more real than he makes them sound]
Ah, I was wondering where your pillow princess side would reveal itself. Fine fine, you can be a damsel in the final act. You get trapped and brought to somewhere dangerous, and even though everyone warns them that it's too dangerous and they're not a magical girl like you, your true love bravely walks into hell itself- like Orpheus braving the Underworld for Eurydice.
If it was me, I think I'd prefer not to be remembered for something like that. I would've done it regardless of how history remembered me if I was in her shoes, y'know? Whatever historians called me would've been preferable to the alternative. But we don't always get to choose that. I guess I ultimately think it's better to let the results speak for themselves, but I'll acknowledge that sometimes people want to know the full weight of what led to that action being taken.
[Let the record show that Harumasa's just as allergic to taking credit for good deeds as Jun is. Man is learning that this isn't a story and someone's reality going to be awkward.]
I think I've shown excellent restraint up until now! It's not much of a story if we're telling it from the perspective of a guy who would PREFER to be the princess in the tower, right?
Now we're cooking with gas! They rescue me using their wit and love fuels their determination, which is what allows us to fully utilize my magical girl power, suppressed by the fear of loving and being loved by someone. Evil is vanquished for now, and I finally get to live out the happily ever after I denied myself~
Haha, I agree with that sentiment. Recognition isn't really all that important to me. Besides, if you do something like that and people know so your deeds, you suddenly become a legend and a hero in the people's eyes-- that comes with its own chains. I rather be an unknown who can slip away in the crowds and go back to a quiet life.
[Why be famous when he could just watch anime in peace on his days off]
Yeah, I guess so. The main character SHOULD capture your spirit, after all.
Awww, that sounds like the perfect ending, actually. Yet again the power of love wins out. 10/10, I'd recommend it to others.
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If we really pad out the pining, this could be part one of a series!
Oh, maybe it's a genre shift after that~ I open up a flower shop to heal my broken heart by day, but the weird Goodwill, I dunno, gave me magical girl powers so now I've joined the rooftop cryptids by night. Totally messes up my sleep schedule, but the team drags me along anyway!
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Ohhh, a little out of left field, but I like it!
Maybe you decided to open the flower shop due to a conversation you had with the barista. You're trying to move on, but part of you always hopes they'll walk through the store's door.
Which you do see them again, but that's while you're disguised in your secret magical girl identity- so they don't recognize you! The classic predicament.
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More pining, more angst, I love it! Really building up to that payoff unless the dice mess with me again~
Oooo, yes, I like it! They fall for my magical girl persona, but they don't realize it's actually me. Yet they also can't move on from me, so they're in a constant battle between letting go and being happy with this "new" person or to still hold out hope of finding me for reconciliation.
We need a twist, though... can't make it too easy, right? All the good stories make them work for that catharsis.
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I like the sound of that. There's something that causes them to be unable to recognize you past your disguise, and so they feel constantly torn.
Mm... yeah. We need a good explanation to why you can't reveal your identity to them and clear up the whole misunderstanding. A curse of some kind?
Or! You're protecting them!
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Maybe they find out about my real identity when I'm hurt badly enough to be knocked out of my magical girl form?
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About a human girl who pretended to be a goddess for centuries to save her people.
She couldn't tell anyone the truth, because if she did, her people would be doomed.
So she carried on with the act, day after day, never faltering no matter how much she surely wanted to.
It's just a story, but I think about it a lot. Maybe there could be some less extreme element of that?
[Jun you fucking liar, you know damn well its real that your landlady's past]
Ohhh, I see what you're going for there, some hurt/comfort, right? That's always a good choice.
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Hits pretty close to home for me, but maybe it'll be cathartic. It's just a story. Yet that doesn't take away how I can relate in part. After all, I'm pretty sure I'd sacrifice a lot for this future partner.
[He did so for the sake of his siblings out of love for them. It's easy to imagine Harumasa doing the same for whoever he falls in love with.]
Hmmm... maybe I can't tell them because if I do, the Big Bad will know somehow and make them an immediate target.
Exactly! By that point, it's earned h/c and that lets us talk about things, but does the will-they-won't-they continue while they process all of that or is this where the long-awaited confession happens?
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Lots of people would focus on the tragedy of her situation, but I actually find her to be pretty inspiring.
What strength and conviction she must've had to pull that off for so long.
And the version I heard did end happy, so that was nice.
["the version he heard"]
Ohhh yeah, maybe the big bad is some kind of fae-like creature? And them finding out your True Name could be very dangerous.
That's good question. I think perhaps it'll continue because now you're torn between your love and your duty? How can you truly have a relationship while you're also protecting the world?
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There's a tragedy in the loneliness and pain she must've felt with only the love of her people sustaining her for a work they might never see.
But there's also an inspiration in the strength of her character to continue on no matter what.
Whether she's an unsung hero or vilified, she did what she did out of love.
I'm not sure how I feel about it yet, other than feeling seen~
It's one that I'll remember, though.
[He's going to be thinking about it for a long time, certainly.]
I like that~!
Haha, good point! Maybe this is the point where I decide to try and fight back at the source. I can't fully destroy evil, but I can still drive it back for those I love!
But! That moment of recklessness is what leads me straight into the enemy's trap, and I'm taken hostage and have to rely on everyone else to save the day! That gives my love interest the chance to show that they're willing to be brave in the face of danger for me~
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Do you think it's better if her efforts are recognized by the people, or is it better to leave the results speak for themselves?
Good, I thought you'd like it.
[Just wait until the day Haru figures out that Jun's "stories" are a bit more real than he makes them sound]
Ah, I was wondering where your pillow princess side would reveal itself. Fine fine, you can be a damsel in the final act.
You get trapped and brought to somewhere dangerous, and even though everyone warns them that it's too dangerous and they're not a magical girl like you, your true love bravely walks into hell itself- like Orpheus braving the Underworld for Eurydice.
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I would've done it regardless of how history remembered me if I was in her shoes, y'know?
Whatever historians called me would've been preferable to the alternative.
But we don't always get to choose that.
I guess I ultimately think it's better to let the results speak for themselves, but I'll acknowledge that sometimes people want to know the full weight of what led to that action being taken.
[Let the record show that Harumasa's just as allergic to taking credit for good deeds as Jun is. Man is learning that this isn't a story and someone's reality going to be awkward.]
I think I've shown excellent restraint up until now! It's not much of a story if we're telling it from the perspective of a guy who would PREFER to be the princess in the tower, right?
Now we're cooking with gas! They rescue me using their wit and love fuels their determination, which is what allows us to fully utilize my magical girl power, suppressed by the fear of loving and being loved by someone. Evil is vanquished for now, and I finally get to live out the happily ever after I denied myself~
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Haha, I agree with that sentiment. Recognition isn't really all that important to me.
Besides, if you do something like that and people know so your deeds, you suddenly become a legend and a hero in the people's eyes-- that comes with its own chains.
I rather be an unknown who can slip away in the crowds and go back to a quiet life.
[Why be famous when he could just watch anime in peace on his days off]
Yeah, I guess so. The main character SHOULD capture your spirit, after all.
Awww, that sounds like the perfect ending, actually. Yet again the power of love wins out. 10/10, I'd recommend it to others.
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Someone else can take the credit.
Haha, maybe I'll write it and post it to my AO3 account if inspiration strikes me!
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[That poor poor soul]
If you do, let me know! I'd love to read it.
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Will do!
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Can't believe you'd do that to your own Daddy.
1/2
BETRAYAL????
JUN KICKS HARUMASA LIKE FOOTBALL??????? OH, JAIL FOR JUN! JAIL FOR A THOUSAND YEARS!!!!!]
2/2
[Haru will never actually do that.]
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You will not.
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Wouldn't be hard to look like you. Make sure you get plenty of credit for good deeds.
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That's not fair!!!
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There's a number of people who don't know Shroud's identity.
Could be a chance to do the funniest thing ever.
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We could totally do the funniest thing ever, but is the bit worth it?
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[Your hero's a moron]
Nah, probably not. You seem to get into enough drama without throwing people's religious issues on the fire.
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cw: limbs
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