New Hakyona Art!!

i really do think hakyona is the perfect example of a slowburn. the pining, the angst, the 100+ chapters until a confession. kusanagi wrote peak slowburn and i will always be grateful.

skip and loafer episode 12

Skip and Loafer is one of my favorite mangas. It's a beautiful story about high schoolers growing up and their relationships with one another. I had been wanting to reread the manga for a while, but I realized I had never actually watched the anime! So, I finally decided to watch it, and I was blown away.

Episode 12 was a perfect season finale, and the entire season blew me away. From the beginning, we watched as Mitsumi adjusted to life in the city by making new friends and joining the student council.

One of her best friendships is with Shima Sousuke, a popular, handsome boy. What I love about episode 12 is that we see Shima's character arc hit its climax. Throughout the show, he is a laid-back guy. However, his internal conflict has to do with his constant need to perform for validation.

While Mitsumi is sure of her future, Shima doesn't have a clue what he wants to do because he has always done what others have asked of him. Of all the people in his life, Mitsumi is one of the few who knows about Shima's child-acting phase. She's pretty perceptive when it comes to Shima. Even when many others can't tell Shima is having a difficult time, she can see through his facade.

This scene may look silly initially, but it's Mitsumi's attempt at protecting Shima.

Ririka, Shima's childhood actress friend, went through a rough patch that she blames on Shima. Since Shima believes he is at fault, he is always at her beck and call despite feeling uncomfortable. At this point in the episode, Mitsumi realizes Ririka purposefully sent Shima's mom away. Despite Mitsumi having some moments where she can't read a room, in this instance, Mitsumi knows that ririka means trouble.

The only way Mitsumi can think of warding off Ririka is to strike a pose similar to that of an anteater. It's silly, but it's a testament to Mitsumi's character. She isn't afraid to look weird if it means she can help someone. Throughout the season, Mitsumi was always making little messes, such as throwing up during the assembly and getting called the "big boss" of the school. Despite these awkward moments, Mitsumi doesn't let this get her down; she gets back up and keeps moving forward.

Shima is aware of Mitsumi's resilience. Unlike himself, Mitsumi isn't afraid of messing up. Shima finds himself drawn to her. Out of all the people he's met, Mitsumi is the one that he finds himself reaching out to.

During the season finale, Shima has a monologue that is one of my favorite moments in the entire manga. It's a testament to his character and the foundation of his future development.

Shima's constant need to perform has forced him to believe his OWN ideas and feelings don't matter

Since childhood, he has thought acting would be a way to make his mother happy. Although he hasn't worked since childhood, he has held onto that mentality his whole life. If he gives people what they want, they'll be happy, even if it costs Shima happiness.

Shima is tough on himself despite his "laidback" appearance. He believes his words and actions have no meaning and that he has no purpose if he isn't "performing" for someone else. He even calls Mitsumi and Kanechika "dazzling" and says that they're so far away from him. He doesn't see himself as someone who can fearlessly do what they want.

Although Shima clearly admires Mitsumi, it isn't until his big performance that he realizes what many of his feelings boil down to.

"I know this feeling. It's envy."

During his performance, he engages in an inner dialogue that circles around the idea that Shima doesn't know himself. Did he want his mom there to watch him perform? Does he want to keep acting? Was he glad she didn't stay? Is his lack of confidence the reason he is uncomfortable around girls? "Does it mean I can act if it's for myself?"

At the end of the day, Shima does not know who he is or what he wants. Unlike Mitsumi and Kanechika, who go 100% into everything they do and are genuinely happy about their choices, Shima has no clue what he finds joy in.

"You'll never be one of them."

It's a simple quote, but this is what leads Shima to understand his jealousy. He has separated himself from those he finds resilient, and despite believing he has to put on an act to make others happy, Shima is envious of those who can live freely.

Yes, this way of living may have been "easy" for Shima and may have even made many people happy, but it doesn't work anymore. After meeting someone like Mitsumi, he sees someone who isn't afraid to "get her hands dirty." Even Kanechika, who has succeeded with his plays, wouldn't have been able to get to this point without doing a few awful projects.

To find success, you need to be willing to make a mess and fall a few times. Although finding success is significant and unique, the most important thing is finding what you love and doing all you can to achieve your dream. This is why Mitsumi and Kanechika are so resilient. They understand there will be troubles along the way, but no problem is too big if it means they can accomplish their goals.

Shima takes a step forward to a new way of living by being vulnerable with Ririka.

Shima feels guilty about what happened with Ririka from the beginning, but we see him gather the courage to finally form a boundary. He isn't completely cutting himself off because he genuinely cares about her, but he tells her he can't keep following her down this destructive path.

I can not stress enough how important this moment is. He had spent so long doing what people expected of him because he believed it was the right choice. He was a people pleaser to a fault, but now he wants more for himself.

"I enjoy this school."

This is one of the rare moments when Shima is honest about his feelings, especially when he loves something. He loves his school, he loves acting, and he loves his friends, and he isn’t going to keep being the same person who was once passive about everything.

This scene is just so impactful. Following his inner monologue, where he talks about doing what others want and being jealous, now he can unapologetically say what he feels. This entire sequence is just so perfect.

I may be incredibly biased since Shima is one of my favorite characters, but this episode was one of the best-written episodes I have seen. It was a perfect way to end the season, with Shima finally stepping forward to become his own person.

Of course, he'll have moments when he's clumsy, but the important thing is that Shima is ensuring that he has a chance to find himself.

Towards the end of the episode, we get a cute moment between Shima and Mitsumi, which leaves her thinking, "But today, he seems almost like...a kid?"

I just love these last few moments of the episode. The little interaction between Shima and Mitsumi was too cute and such a nice touch to the season finale.

What I love the most about this scene is that Mitsumi notices that Shima has a more childlike air. It's almost like all that weight that was piling up throughout the season is finally gone, leaving Shima with the chance to spend his high school days comfortably.

All in all, this episode was the perfect season finale! The writing, the voice acting, the animation—everything was just so well done. It truly brought the story to life.

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There aren't enough words to describe how much I loved this episode, but I hope this post at least gave insight into why I love this series so much. Shima's growth is one of the best parts of this series, and this episode begins a new chapter in his life.

I love Shima and Mitsumi so much. Skip and Loafer is one of the best pieces of media I have ever read, and it will always have a strong impact on my life.

losers

THEY ARE SO SO SO CUTE!!!!!!!!

Baking my long distance bf into a cookie because I miss him

i think they're doing well

from this tiktok and twt art meme: x

(edit) plus:

hello hiruhoshi nation, non-shaky sachirou and dog for the team.

i didn’t think i would love zoro so much, but the more i get into one piece the more i love him! he’s incredibly hardworking, he’s devoted to his crew, he will put his all into a fight even if the the odds are against him. he’s so cool!! i always thought he was super serious but i love zoro’s silly side the most! he’s just very endearing and sweet. it makes me so happy to see him enjoying the adventures alongside his friends. he’s an amazing character!

iwaoi has been one of my fav haikyuu ships since the beginning. the childhood best friends to lovers trope, the pining, the slowburn, the unrequited feelings, the “what if this ruins our friendship” thing. something about loving and knowing someone for so long but never getting sick of them that does something to my brain!! the distance between them didn’t change a thing, at the end of the day, it will always be hajime & tooru against the world. for as long as they both can remember, they were always together. <3

just caught up on after school lessons for unripe apples and i have never been happier!!! it’s such a comforting webtoon. cheol & miae mean so much to me. not only is this such a great slowburn romance but watching cheolmiae navigate their way through life is so beautiful. it’s awkward, it’s messy, but they care so much about each other. aslfua and cheolmiae will always be so special to me!

height difference

i watched look back (spoilers)

got back from the theaters not long ago and immediately felt like i had to unload all my feelings about this movie. the manga itself was so beautiful but somehow, the movie just made each and every moment so much more beautiful.

from the silly moments that made me laugh to the heartwrenching ones that made me cry, this movie was full of so much detail and care. you could feel the effort from each scene. i can't believe this movie even exists; it's just that good.

the story of two young girls with a passion for art coming together to create manga. it's a simple concept, but fujimoto's story is one to remember. fujino is used to the "talented artist" role in 4th grade, only for all of that to crumble when she realizes she isn't as talented as she was made out to be. but going to drop off kyomoto's diploma begins an unlikely friendship.

the scene of fujino dancing in the rain and the montage of the two girls drawing together made me feel so happy. these two girls became so close, bonding over their love of drawing manga. not only did they have someone to share their love of art with, but the manga they created led them to success. when kyomoto thanked fujino for getting her out of that house, i could not stop crying at that point of the movie. It captured the youthful essence so perfectly. i felt so much joy watching these two draw their way through the years. it almost made me forget what was coming up next.

the friendship is captured so well, and so is the grief that fujino feels after losing kyomoto. this scene is already heartbreaking, but the voice acting takes it to another level. i was trying to hold it together, but when fujino blamed herself for what happended, i was a wreck. in her eyes, she would have been safe if kyomoto never stepped out that day. watching these moments on screen was so much more painful than reading them. i could not believe how well it was done.

but before i could cry anymore, it cuts to young kyomoto and her life in the alternate world where she meets fujino again. these moments were so comforting. in another world, they were both alive and well and could even come together to draw. i like to imagine that in every possible timeline where these two meet, they will create a friendship founded on their love of art and draw for the rest of their lives.

then why do you draw, fujino?

i genuinely have no words to describe how i felt at this moment. the moments of kyomoto happily reading their manga, the two drawing and laughing together. the reason for going back to drawing manga was because fujino met kyomoto. if it were not for that one day after their 6th grade graduation, fujino would not be where she is now. it doesn't matter in what timeline or universe these two are in; if fujino were to meet kyomoto, they would come together and draw.

this movie brought fujimoto's story to life in the most incredible and heartfelt way, and it was such an experience to watch on screen. even as i write this, i'm tearing up. this story is just so impactful. it's not a happy ending, nor is it a sad one. it's a part of life to love so much, to lose some, and to keep on going. look back is just such a moving piece of work, and i have said it so many times, but this movie truly outdid itself.

i wish i could see this in theaters again. if you love the manga, i highly recommend watching it. it's so beautiful.