Ishida’s afterword part 4

kenkamishiro:

Please feel to correct me if there are any mistakes. (source of the afterword)

Edit 1: Proofread for grammar and wording.

Heading to Tokyo

After studying manga and heading to Tokyo, I received an assistant position and a referral from Matsuo-san, who was in charge.

For some time I gratefully worked under Hara Yasuhisa-sensei of Kingdom.I really was a useless assistant and I only caused trouble, but I learned many things under his tutelage.

I remember receiving a huge shock and being impacted by his flaming passion the first time I saw a manuscript drawn by a pro like him.

Hara-sensei has always been standing at the top of the magazine since then, and he is still a huge feature who supports it to this day. He is truly amazing, and I absolutely respect him.

Things That Made Me Happy

I’ve only listed hardships, but there were plenty of good things that happened as well.I was able to request songs from my favourite artists for the anime:

– TK-san of Ling Tosite Sigure for “unravel”,
– People In The Box for “The Saints”,
– amazarashi for “Seasons Die One After Another”,
– Takahashi Kunimitsu for “Incompetence”.

And for :re,

– Jooubachi for “HALF”,
– Cö shu Nie for “asphyxia”.
– (the songs for the latter half of :re are still in their demo phase, but they both sound amazing).

It brings back memories when I listen to them even now. They are very precious songs to me.

Through the Hisoka spinoff project for HUNTER X HUNTER, I was able to meet and talk with Togashi Yoshihiro-sensei. I have wonderful memories of the experience.

Togashi really is a cool and wonderful person.“I’m always coming up with storyboards,” he’d say, demonstrating it while sprawled on the bare floor, which I would watch while kneeling.

During those times I couldn’t tell whether this was reality or just a dream.

Before we met he gave me a letter that had a HUNTER X HUNTER storyboard written on one side, and it was the storyboard for chapter 351 featuring Hisoka vs. Chrollo. I can’t believe he did something so considerate for me, I thought, deeply touched.…

it gives me pure happiness that I could get readers to enjoy themselves. Even though drawing for me was tough, if there’s someone out there who can take pleasure in it I can do my best.

It may seem like lip service, but that is the best reward and means just about everything to me.

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Ishida’s afterword part 3

kenkamishiro:

Please feel to correct me if there are any mistakes. (source of the afterword)

Edit 1: Proofread for grammar and wording.

My Dream Back in Elementary School

I remember writing “gymnast” for this prompt in the school anthology.

From when I was born up until the first year of junior high, I was very thick and so overweight that I looked like a pig, but I had fairly good motor skills.

Mat competition and horizontal bar were my forte, and I also did backflips.

Though in reality I had no desire to become a gymnast. For some reason I thought that I’d feel guilty if I wrote that my dream was to be a mangaka.

My Junior High School Days

These were at most memories from my junior high school days, but I found it easier to study back then. My parents kept nagging at me to study and study, so I was studious so I wouldn’t have to hear the nagging.

I liked English, so when I was in my second year of junior high I took the grade 2 English proficiency exam, which was the highlight of those days. (Apart from that I don’t really understand English that well.)

My parents scolded me as my grades dropped. I didn’t want to be reprimanded again and so I kept studying.When I got the highest grade in the school, I happily announced it to my father and he said, “Keep it up for next time.”

Looking back on that, that might’ve been his way of telling me that I did a good job, but back then I thought, “There’s no point even if I do my best,” and so I lost all meaning in studying.

Secondary Education Moratorium Period

I wanted to get away from my parents, so I applied for schools that had dormitories.I enjoyed the dorm life and I mainly spent my time just playing games.

My grades were beyond horrible, and I was at the bottom of my class. The content I studied in school just didn’t hold my interest.I also began drawing via the Internet. Although I started out by drawing with a mouse, I bought a pen tablet and began drawing colour illustrations on my PC.

Finding a Job

I began going around looking for jobs, but I ended up not doing anything because there wasn’t any job that I wanted to do.

The only jobs I could apply for required expertise that you could only learn in school, but because I hadn’t been interested in the content in school back then, it was impossible for me to apply.

Left all alone, I fretted over what I should do.

I fought a lot with my parents.In the end, after being screamed at by my father, I gave up and agreed to go job hunting. My memory is a bit hazy, but on that occasion I seem to have told him, “I’m dead.”

I wonder if it was those words that broke me, because it eventually allowed me to choose a path other than finding employment.

The path that came to mind at the time was becoming a mangaka.

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My greatest hope and desire for this arc: Frances Midford.

into-the-endless-midnight:

cielizzydefencesquad:

(Warning: incoherent ramblings, half-jumbled thoughts, and the desperate cries of a Frances Midford lover ahead.)

People tend to forget that Frances is a Phantomhive just like OC. Marrying Alexis didn’t magically change her blood, heritage, past, or experience. She is the daughter of Claudia Phantomhive, the younger sister of Vincent Phantomhive—and I am willing to bet 500,000 guineas (at 1812 value) that it was Frances who acted as Vincent’s bodyguard/swordswoman before she got married and had Edward.

I desperately want it to be Frances who either bails OC out of jail or vouches for him or does something incognito/surreptitiously (because, ya know, she’s still the Marchioness of Scotney but she’s also a freaking Phantomhive. She can make shady deals better than anybody). We might finally get a chance to see some aunt-nephew bonding time where it’ll be Frances who tells OC a few inconvenient truths he may not want to hear and it’ll be Frances who demands the full story out of OC—and she’s not above manipulation, coercion, and straight up ordering him to get her way and bring some goddamn coherence to this currently mangled plot.

Because let’s set aside the rose-tinted goggles and admit it: OC lies. He lies consciously and with complete self-awareness. And I’m not blaming him for it—just stating a fact. He lied because of a very real inferiority complex. He lied because he was overwhelmed by guilt and self-hatred. He lied because he was in an emotionally fragile place when he escaped the cult and, let be honest: Sebastian is anything but sympathetic. (If anything the dude’s an enabler. The kind of guy who encourages an alcoholic to keep drinking or a drug addict to keep going.)

Point is, OC does have reasons for what he did…but does anyone know them? OC pushes people away, refuses to tell them anything even resembling the truth.

(And it’s here where I’m gonna say it: Elizabeth didn’t know why OC lied. Just as we, the readers, don’t know what Elizabeth is thinking, what’s going through her mind, what she experienced after being in a cult for three months with no one to tell her anything except a reanimated corpse with a 10 year old’s mindset and a deranged obsession with his younger twin, a mentally unbalanced/emotionally crippled former reaper who’s known to conceal vital truths, and motherfucking Blavat. We don’t know what Lizzy’s been through—just like she doesn’t know OC’s reasons for blatantly lying to everyone around him for 3+ years.)

Because honestly?

I just want to see Frances take OC to some secure location (that was passed down to her by Claudia because this is a residence that can only be inherited by a female Phantomhive), giving him tea, a blanket, and a smile that is all at once exasperated, concerned, somewhat irritated, and above all—affectionate. I feel like there was a reason Yana kept Frances alive and in the story. Frannie P here knows more about the Phantomhive history than either RC or OC and I will riot if Frances isn’t more involved with this hellish Blue Sect-turned-Hello Twin arc.

#Petition for the last living Phantomhive who actually knows some shit about Claudia and UT to actively get more bloody involved with the story.

Mod Nina out ✌🏻

Agree, if there is anyone who should not be ignored. It’s Frances, she has been around. She was the mother, and her daughter is betrothed to Ciel.

By all means, I do expect Frances to play a part.

Thoughts on R!Ciel and Kuroshitsuji 142

skania:

I said this before but I still think that R!Ciel is out to isolate O!Ciel in order to make himself look as O!Ciel’s only ally and make O!Ciel dependent on him. What I can’t put my finger on just yet, is if he’s doing it because of his yandere tendencies and thus out of genuine if twisted love for O!Ciel… or because he actually is bitter about what happened and wants to have revenge on him. So far, it looks as if it were the former but it’d be interested if it were the latter ~~(I love angst)~~.

I normally don’t theorize if it’s not directly related to Lizzy/Cielizzy, but my money (like a lot of people’s) is on R!Ciel and Undertaker being behind the anonymous call. Whether it was them themselves or they asked someone else to do it, I have no clue. But the culprit would still be them either way.

There is the fact that they’re the only ones to not look surprised when everyone barges in. But aside that, what better way to make his grand return than when his little brother is mind broken, and by solving a crime that R!Ciel/Undertaker themselves started?

Seriously, it’s brilliant.

They already got what they needed from Bravat, and they better than anyone know how he works – since they are the ones who set all this up. So by helping solve their own crime – technically committed by someone else – R!Ciel wouldn’t only been retaking his place as Earl Phantomhive, but also showing he’s competent to be the Queen’s Watchdog.

This panel right here is just great:

Afficher davantage

Lizzy and the 2 Ciels (Chapter 142 & 117)

skania:

I already made a post about Lizzy’s shoes when the chapter came out, so now I’m just going to gush and let the rest of my thoughts out because this is too much.

I knew Lizzy was in the manor all along and that she’d be saved for last!! I wonder how much she heard? And how much of R!Ciel/O!Ciel’s story was even said aloud, anyway? The flashback went on for so long that now everything is blurry for me lol

In either case, now is when things will get
truly

interesting because ohhh boy can I see R!Ciel using Lizzy in all the ways he sees fit to further break and isolate O!Ciel.

I’m eager to see R!Ciel and Lizzy interact because I wonder if he’s going to bother to put of the façade of a loving fiancee, or if he’s not even going to bother to hide his manipulations from her. I’m also wondering if he still harbors any sort of affection for her, or if his status as a bizarre doll prevents it and now all his feelings are reserved towards his little brother.

My girl is finally in the same room as the two of them. I’m so excited I can barely wait for next month.

Her face though.

Oh God. Her face. Lizzy is so damn hurt. She’s spent the entire arc alone and miserable and who knows all the stuff R!Ciel and the others fed her.

But it’s extremely telling that despite all that, despite what she knows and doesn’t know – Lizzy still looks heartbroken to not be on O!Ciel’s side.

Afficher davantage

hushpiper:

There’s something about Eren that I don’t think I can emphasize enough:

No matter the age.

No matter the time or place or circumstances. Eren is the Attack Titan. I don’t know how the paths between the Children of Ymir are supposed to work, but if we look I think we have to conclude that Eren’s own fate and personhood were deeply tied up in what he would become long before it was ever certain. Maybe it’s so strong in him because he would eventually become the Coordinate, where all the paths converge–I don’t know. But:

No matter the age. Eren could have been born in paradise, in a world of perpetual peace–he practically was–and he would still be angry, and he would still be seeking, because there is no amount of freedom that is sufficient. (Thought: how much of Eren’s reaction to the slavers who took Mikasa was down to the fact that they were slavers?)

He’s doomed to restlessness, in any life. He can’t just stop and be satisfied, any more than he can stop breathing. Even if he settles down, even if he forgets, that’s the truth that’s always going to smolder at the bottom of his heart, and all it will take is a tiny blue-eyed boy telling him about the sea to wake him up to fight once more.

That’s who and what Eren is.

Crack Theory Rabbit Hole.

rottenprincessshura:

I totally think that Mephisto will try to entice Shura into some kind of wager. Most likely as his new temporary vessel. This has been discussed previously in a blog posting by Kiellessa and I totally agree with this theory.

I don’t think that Mephisto had a successful vessel created for himself in chapter 13.

Chapter 13/Clones

So far in the manga we have learned about the Azazel clones. These clones were most likely created to be vessels for Lucifer. Azazel must have had very powerful DNA and could have perhaps produced stronger clones that could have sustained the intense power of Lucifer. We know that the cloning research was mostly unsuccessful. I doubt Lucifer gets his clone. Lucifer stopped working with Mephisto and went off on his own to fund and research an elixir to regenerate demon vessels.

Amaimon’s Wager

I have a theory that Mephisto also created a successful clone from his own DNA, but decided to give his clone to Amaimon as part of a wager. The clone might not have been strong enough to hold Mephisto’s power, but perhaps could have been strong enough for the weaker Amaimon. Now Amaimon owes his big brother a huge favour which Mephisto is going to collect on in the upcoming chapters. Most likely Amaimon is going to need to take his brother’s side in a war against Lucifer (or some uncomfortable situation with Shiemi..which might be just as entertaining…..)

Shura as Mephisto’s Vessel

Mephisto probably wasn’t too worried about losing his clone to Amaimon as he can slow down the degeneration of his own body with his time/space powers. He also has a backup vessel nearby, Plan B, which is Shura Kirigakure. Shura is more powerful than Amaimon and her body can handle a demon contract. She can probably function as a temporary Mephisto vessel. Mephisto has placed Shura in her current position of “strategic public relations” for a reason, when he takes over her body, he will be back in charge and nobody will know the difference. (Oh…he also picked out that outfit, because Meph/Shura should look as smokin’ hot as possible. )

Mephisto’s Current Body

So what Happens to Mephisto’s current body? Shura can probably only handle Mephisto’s power for a short duration of time. Which means Mephisto probably will need a Plan C. He will need Lucifer’s elixir to fix his own ailing body. I think that’s why Mephisto seemed to be helping Lucifer in his plans by allowing Izumo Kamiki to be captured for research. He is just as desperate for that elixir as Lucifer and wants the illuminati research to succeed. Mephisto has his own scientific and magical genius Neuhaus to preserve his body in the meantime. Neuhaus seems to have a knack for dead body reanimation and most likely preservation. Neuhaus (that creepy bastard) probably has a plan already in place. Mephisto will probably get Shima to steal the elixir. Thank god for his sneaky little illuminati spy.

Will Shura agree to help Mephisto? Would she agree to some kind of wager?

This will be a rather sticky wicket for Mephisto. His previous contracts with Shiro and Faust involved the promise of power and knowledge. Shura couldn’t give a rats ass about power. She barely gives a rat’s ass about anything. She also doesn’t trust Mephisto whatsoever.

Love and Attachment is the Key

If power and knowledge isn’t Shura’s thing…what else could he try? it must be love? Love and attachment. (Even if Mephisto believes that these human emotions are illusions, he needs Shura to feel them deeply) Shura craves love, she hasn’t had an ounce of it her entire life. She felt extreme apathy after Shiro died, because she loved him so much and his loss crippled her. This wasn’t ideal for Mephisto’s plans.

Mephisto sent Rin and Yukio to save her from Hachiro’s curse for two reasons. He wanted Shura freed from the demon contract, so he could have her for himself. He also wanted her to bond more deeply with both Rin and Yukio. Mephisto needs Shura to care about something, he wanted her to live on and think about her future. Mephisto will use Shura’s attachment to the boys as leverage to entice her to into helping him. If she doesn’t agree to help Mephisto, he will tell her some sort of sordid tale. Most likely that a cruel fate will occur to Rin and Yukio, without some sort of Shura/Mephisto collaboration. Mamma Shura would of course agree to his terms to save Shiro’s boys.

(hopefully Shiro gave Shura some decent advice before he died….perhaps a way to trick Mephisto? I would find that a very entertaining concept.)

metzgeray:

“What does that even mean?!”

Source: metzgeray

Ishida’s afterword part 2

kenkamishiro:

Please feel to correct me if there are any mistakes. (source of the afterword)

Edit 1: Proofread for grammar and fluidity.

My Childhood

My family moved a lot due to my father’s work.

By sixth grade of elementary school I’d lived in Tokushima, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saga and Fukuoka. I even lived in Taiwan when I was in kindergarten.

It was an endless cycle of making friends and parting ways from them, so I never developed any childhood or close friendships.

My relationship with my family grew stronger as a result, but because my father was so strict my home felt incredibly cramped to me.

I liked playing games when my father wasn’t around. Drawing wasn’t so bad either.

Drawing

It was sometime around first grade of elementary school that I’d play with older sister by drawing pictures.

We’d assemble bundles of paper, and draw fantastical manga about going on adventures and involving dragons and swords.

Eventually I wanted the real professional tools. If you studied with Shinken Seminar* at the time, you could receive achievement points and save them up for a free gift. Knowing that I could exchange those points for a become-a-mangaka set, I worked hard to save up those points.

I think it took several months to save up because the set was expensive point-wise and of good quality.

I finally saved up the points, and once I obtained the mangaka set I grasped the G pen for the first time in my life.

When I dipped the pen in ink and drew a line on the stiff Kent paper, I got the feeling that I had opened a forbidden door.

For a little while I spent time feeling like I was a mangaka, when one day my hand slipped and spilled ink on the tatami mat.

I watched the scene despondently, wondering why my exasperated mother was wiping the spilled ink off the mat with steaming hot rice (is it that good at absorbing things?).

I couldn’t endure it, and so I sealed the mangaka set. I wouldn’t hold a pen again for more than ten years after that incident.Who knows, if I hadn’t spilled ink at that time, I might have become a super genius mangaka…

Note: Shinken Seminar (進研ゼミ) is an educational correspondence program run by Benesse.

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