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✦ 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐀 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 - 𝐀𝐎𝟑 ✦
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Post my theories and random thoughts in #kinayapp
Hi, welcome in. I’m KinA.
This blog is my little archive.
If the sign says on duty, my request box is open. You’re free to drop a case file or anything you’re curious about. I might take my time, but I always read everything.
About the ask box:
If I haven’t replied to your ask, it’s likely because I have write block on the prompt you sent. I don’t want to deliver half assed content so please be patient 🩷
English isn't my first language ⚠️
Accounts for other fandoms:
BSH/HTBUWYYB: @radonair
TFC/BBD/HP/CD/etc: @neurthewanderer
Blocklists: I’ve noticed others in the fandom doing this, so I wanted to share my heads up. If you find yourself blocked, it’s likely because you’re using general fandom hashtags to spread hate. Since I follow those tags to see content I like, I can’t mute the tag itself so my only option is to block the users.
Note: I want to share some of my concepts about Kyklos (she is so beautiful!). However, you know what? My usual theory and headcanon posts are getting a bit lame, so how about we roleplay a bit today instead?
Disclaimer: Like many in the institute, you are not exactly innocent or moral, my dear, so don't jump me for this.
warning: wall of text
ft: Hyde, Romeo
PROJECT METADATA & AUTHORSHIP
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S):
Lead Researcher: Dr. [DISPOSED]
Field Biologist: Researcher [DISPOSED]
Data Analyst: Specialist [DISPOSED]
Co-Investigator / Surviving Archivist: [REDACTED] (Identity secured for active field preservation)
𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐄
Project Title: Project Anthesis: Anomaly Kyklos Isolation and Structural Pathogenesis Study
Subject Designation: Subject Anthozoa-V (Colloquially referred to within internal logs as "The Blossom")
Epidemiological Classification: Class-V Hyper-Ancient Parasitic Metamorphosis Anomaly
Active Patient Ledger: 14 Confirmed Infestations (0 Recovered, 13 Terminated, 1 Missing in Field)
If you are reading this document, there is a high probability that I am no longer alive. Whether that outcome was caused by the nature of this project, the actions of the Institute, or my own poor decisions remains uncertain. Regardless, I believe my findings deserve to survive even if I do not. This journal serves as both a research record and a personal account of Project [REDACTED], an independent investigation into an anomaly known as Kyklos.
Among all documented anomalies, Kyklos remains one of the most fascinating entities I have ever encountered. Official records classify it as an ancient high risk anomaly due to its unpredictable nature and the catastrophic effects it has on human hosts. Despite that classification, I find it difficult to view Kyklos as merely a threat. There is something strangely beautiful about it. Perhaps it is the contradiction of its existence. It resembles a thousand souls trapped within a single body.
Like many anomalies, Kyklos propagates itself through humans. However, unlike conventional parasitic entities, it does not fit neatly into any existing category. It is not a parasite, yet it behaves like one. It is not a chimera, yet it displays characteristics commonly associated with chimeric organisms. The true origin of the anomaly remains unknown, and its life cycle has never been properly documented. This is largely because successful containment of Kyklos specimens is extremely rare. Most of the individuals currently housed within our laboratory were never Kyklos themselves. They were victims of the anomaly's curse. Officially, they are patients. Unofficially, they are also our t̷e̷s̷t̷ s̷u̷b̷j̷e̷c̷t̷s̷.
One of the most frustrating aspects of Kyklos research is the complete absence of a predictable victim profile. Most anomalies exhibit recognizable patterns when selecting hosts. They may target individuals of a certain age group, physical condition, psychological state or geographic location. Kyklos demonstrates none of these tendencies. Over the course of our investigation, we have failed to identify a single meaningful connection between infected individuals. Every victim appears unrelated to the last, making predictive prevention nearly impossible.
My interest in Kyklos began years ago during my school days. While reading a biology textbook, I discovered a brief section dedicated to anomalous organisms. Most of the material was unremarkable, but the entry regarding Kyklos immediately captured my attention. What fascinated me most was not the information that was present, but the information that was missing. Nearly half of the designated pages were blank because no further research existed. The only confirmed recommendation was to avoid contact with the anomaly under all circumstances. Naturally, such a warning only made me more curious.
Although the Kyklos Curse appears to have little effect on me personally, I exercised considerable caution when assembling my research team. Contrary to popular belief, I do have limits, and I had no desire to be held legally responsible if something went wrong. Admittedly, the legality of this project is questionable from the outset. Darkwick Institute has devoted substantial resources toward preventing unauthorized observation, containment, and experimentation involving Kyklos. Official protocols require extensive approval, trained specialists, and Institute oversight. We ignored those requirements.
Many would describe this project as unethical. They are not entirely wrong. However, I find Darkwick's position equally difficult to justify. Their fear of the anomaly has resulted in years of stagnation, while victims continue to accumulate. I would rather attempt something dangerous and fail than stand aside and accomplish nothing. The individuals who chose to follow me understood those risks and remained loyal despite them.
Whenever Darkwick successfully identifies a new victim of the Kyklos Curse, the outcome is almost always the same. The patient is isolated, monitored briefly, and eventually euthanized before significant progression can occur. Institute officials argue that continued observation is both dangerous and inhumane. I disagree. If we refuse to study the disease, how can we ever hope to save future victims? How can we prevent further infections? Kyklos may be beautiful, but it is also cruel, and beauty alone is not enough reason to abandon scientific inquiry.
Following multiple years of observation, our team has identified five primary stages of infection. While the rate of progression varies slightly between individuals, the overall pattern remains relatively consistent across all documented Bloom Subjects.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐈: 𝐃𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦
The initial stage presents almost no visible symptoms. Subjects are capable of eating, drinking, sleeping, speaking, and performing daily activities without noticeable impairment. Standard medical examinations rarely reveal abnormalities, and most infected individuals remain completely unaware that they have been exposed.
For this reason, Stage I is considered the most dangerous period from an epidemiological perspective. The host appears healthy while the anomaly quietly establishes itself within the body. Based on current evidence, this stage may persist for months before progressing further.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐈𝐈: 𝐂𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞
The first noticeable symptoms begin to emerge during Stage II. Subjects commonly report recurring headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, sleep deprivation, and increasingly vivid nightmares.
At this stage, most patients assume they are suffering from stress related conditions or common illnesses. Physical examinations continue to reveal little evidence of infection, making early diagnosis exceptionally difficult. Despite the relatively mild symptoms, neurological activity becomes noticeably abnormal when compared to baseline measurements.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐈𝐈𝐈: 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
Stage III marks a significant increase in symptom severity. The headaches and sleep disturbances observed during Stage II become considerably more frequent and intense. Hallucinations begin to occur regularly, with subjects reporting voices, figures, and environmental distortions that cannot be independently verified.
Many patients display signs of paranoia, emotional instability, and progressive cognitive deterioration. Several become convinced that they are being observed by unseen entities.
It is also during this stage that the first physical sign of infection becomes visible.
A floral shaped mark develops at the base of the neck and gradually spreads across the back. As the pattern expands, it resembles roots or vines growing beneath the skin. The appearance of this mark is considered confirmation that the mutation process has entered its advanced stages.
At this point, successful intervention becomes increasingly unlikely.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐈𝐕: 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
The fourth stage represents the point at which the anomaly achieves near total control over the host.
Subjects begin reporting persistent itching across the body, particularly around the neck, ears, shoulders, and upper spine. Skin irritation becomes widespread, often accompanied by discoloration around infected regions.
Current evidence suggests that Kyklos functions in a manner remarkably similar to plant life. Rather than immediately altering the host's physical body, it first establishes itself within the victim's consciousness before extending deeper into biological structures.
Simply put, it roots itself mentally before rooting itself physically.
The appearance of extensive itching and rashes appears to indicate that the anomaly has successfully consumed the majority of the host's psychological defenses. Recovery at this stage is exceptionally rare. Most researchers consider the patient effectively lost despite remaining biologically alive.
This conclusion remains one of the most difficult aspects of our work.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐕: 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦
Stage V represents complete mutation.
Small flower petals begin emerging across the subject's body before spreading rapidly over the skin. The distribution pattern varies between individuals, although concentrations are typically highest around the neck, chest, arms, and facial region.
Physiologically, the patient remains alive.
Functionally, however, they resemble a living corpse.
Most higher cognitive functions disappear, replaced by behaviors that remain poorly understood. Surprisingly, newly transformed subjects rarely demonstrate immediate aggression or active attempts to infect others.
Instead, they enter a temporary adaptation period that our team has designated the Blooming Interval.
During this phase, the newly formed Kyklos appears focused on adjusting to its host body rather than seeking new victims. This period may last several weeks before the anomaly becomes fully active.
At the time of writing, the biological purpose of this adaptation period remains unknown.
𝐋𝐎𝐆 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘: 𝟎𝟏-𝐁
Date: XX/XX/20XX
Time: [REDACTED]
Approximately one week after abandoning hopes of recovering our advanced stage patients, we observed a phenomenon that fundamentally altered our understanding of the curse.
The incubation period of FCDS appears to average roughly one year. Following complete mutation, we initially believed the original host consciousness had been entirely erased. However, several Bloom Subjects unexpectedly regained the ability to communicate.
At first, we assumed this behavior represented another adaptation strategy. The anomaly mimicking human behavior would provide an effective method for attracting future victims.
We were wrong.
The voices speaking to us did not belong to Kyklos. They belonged to the patients.
Against all expectations, fragments of the original individual remained alive within the transformed body.
The message, however, remains consistent. Every single one of them asks for help.
At this point, I am no longer certain whether these individuals should be classified as living patients or post-mortem anomalies. Biologically, their bodies continue to function. Neurologically, traces of the original individual remain detectable. Yet their existence differs little from death. Their consciousness surfaces only long enough to recognize their condition before being submerged once more beneath whatever process Kyklos imposes upon them.
I have witnessed numerous containment failures, anomalous outbreaks, and experimental casualties throughout my career. Very few have disturbed me. Watching a Bloom Subject regain awareness for several minutes only to realize what they have become is among those few exceptions.
This discovery may explain why Darkwick prohibits independent research involving Kyklos. The condition is not merely dangerous. It is profoundly inhumane. Nevertheless, despite the ethical implications, our team agreed to continue the project. If these individuals were still alive, even partially, then abandoning the research would accomplish nothing except guaranteeing the same fate for future victims.
𝐋𝐎𝐆 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘: 𝟎𝟐-𝐀
Date: XX/XX/20XX
Time: [REDACTED]
It has been nearly two years since my project officially began.
Today, I made the decision to suspend active research operations. The choice was not voluntary.
One of our Bloom Subjects escaped containment approximately three weeks ago. Despite extensive search efforts, we have been unable to relocate the individual. More concerning is the possibility that Darkwick may have detected evidence of an unregistered Kyklos operating outside official containment zones. Several contacts have reported increased Institute activity in nearby districts, suggesting they may already be investigating.
Until the situation stabilizes, continuing operations would place both myself and the remaining members of my team at unnecessary risk.
For the first time since initiating this project, I am forced to admit that caution may be the wiser option.
𝐋𝐎𝐆 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘: 𝟎𝟐-𝐁
Date: XX/XX/20XX
Time: [REDACTED]
The research team has officially disbanded.
Over the past several months, I watched morale deteriorate with alarming speed. The further we progressed into understanding the curse, the more difficult it became for some members to justify our methods. Several argued that our work differed little from the practices Darkwick accuses unauthorized researchers of committing. Others simply could not endure the emotional burden of observing the patients.
I understand their concerns.
In truth, I cannot entirely disagree with them.
Every member who resigned demonstrated more empathy than I ever possessed. For that reason, I chose not to stop them. Whatever guilt accompanies this project should belong to me alone.
𝐋𝐎𝐆 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘: 𝟎𝟐-𝐂
Date: XX/XX/20XX
Time: [REDACTED]
An unusual development has occurred.
Nearly half of the former staff members who resigned from Project [REDACTED] have disappeared under unexplained circumstances.
Several remaining contacts have privately accused me of silencing individuals to preserve project secrecy. The accusation is understandable given the nature of our work. However, I can state with complete certainty that I bear no responsibility for these disappearances.
Unfortunately, that realization offers little comfort.
If I am not responsible, then someone else is.
And whoever that may be appears significantly more dangerous than I initially anticipated.
For the first time since beginning this project, I find myself questioning whether I am truly the one conducting the investigation or merely another subject being observed.
𝐋𝐎𝐆 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘: 𝟎𝟑-𝐀
Date: XX/XX/20XX
Time: [REDACTED]
I have resumed research independently.
No assistants. No consultants. No field teams. And no witnesses.
At first, the silence was difficult to tolerate. Eventually, I realized it allowed me to focus more effectively.
More importantly, I finally discovered a recurring pattern within the biological behavior of Kyklos.
The anomaly does not merely resemble floral organisms, it functions as one.
The entire infection cycle mirrors the growth process of plant life. Human hosts provide nutrients, hydration, temperature regulation, and biological stability in much the same way soil supports a seed. Once established, the anomaly adapts to its environment and gradually alters the host until complete transformation occurs.
The comparison is surprisingly accurate.
A seed requires fertile soil, water, and sunlight. Kyklos requires a human body. However, not every seed survives every environment.
After reviewing archived cases and conducting comparative analysis, I discovered several instances in which Kyklos failed to adapt successfully to its host. In these cases, both the anomaly and the infected individual perished before full mutation could occur.
If adaptation can fail naturally, then perhaps it can be disrupted artificially.
This observation became the foundation of my next objective. Medication development.
𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓
Anti-Mutation Pharmaceutical Development Program
Research Lead: [REDACTED]
Current Status: Active
After several months of experimentation, I have begun developing pharmaceutical agents designed to interfere with the progression of FCDS.
𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜-𝐏𝐫𝐄𝐏 (𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐬)
Status: Incomplete / Theoretical Formula.
Objective: Immunological immunization against the vector’s volatile energy footprint before physical exposure occurs.
𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜-𝐏𝐄𝐏 (𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐬)
Status: Active Protocol / Stabilized Formulation.
While neither treatment can eliminate the infection, P-PEP demonstrates measurable success in slowing progression rates among early stage Bloom Subjects.
Current research suggests that Kyklos requires a highly specific biological environment to thrive. Nutrient availability, hydration levels, metabolic activity, and body temperature all appear to influence the speed of mutation.
P-PEP functions by artificially destabilizing those conditions.
Rather than attacking the anomaly directly, the treatment alters the host environment until it becomes increasingly unsuitable for continued growth.
The results have been promising.
When administered shortly after exposure and combined with strict compliance to treatment protocols, progression can be delayed for approximately two months beyond expected timelines.
Unfortunately, the side effects are severe.
Observed complications include persistent nausea, reduced heart rate, lowered body temperature, appetite suppression, hallucinations, memory impairment, concentration difficulties, and increased sensitivity to sunlight.
Interestingly, weakening Kyklos also weakens the host.
Patients undergoing treatment demonstrate significant intolerance to ultraviolet exposure and become increasingly nocturnal in their activity patterns. Daytime lethargy becomes common, while periods of alertness occur primarily during nighttime hours.
Current dosage recommendations require two injections per month.
The treatment is not approved for individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions due to elevated complication risks.
Further testing remains necessary.
Unfortunately, without external funding, future development may become impossible to me.
𝐋𝐎𝐆 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘: 𝟎𝟑-𝐁
Date: XX/XX/20XX
Time: [REDACTED]
I had almost forgotten about Project [REDACTED].
Months had passed since my last meaningful breakthrough. Funding had disappeared. Research materials had become increasingly difficult to acquire. Most importantly, there was nobody left to share the burden with.
Perhaps that was for the best. The fewer people involved, the fewer people would disappear.
For a while, I convinced myself that abandoning the project was the rational decision. Kyklos had already taken enough from me. My team was gone. My reputation was ruined. Whatever remained of my social life had been sacrificed years ago in favor of chasing answers that seemed increasingly out of reach.
Today I went to get my groceries, and a shady car kept following me as I turned into an alley to avoid them. I ended up getting captured anyway.
There was a man in a black suit who announced that there was someone who would like to talk to me. They then proceeded to blindfold me and took me somewhere unknown to me. They claimed they were Institute agents.
Upon arriving at the place, they still had not taken off my blindfold until they brought me into what seemed to be a building and a room. There, I met a guy. Oddly enough, I recognized him.
He was one of those seniors back in my school days. We were not close by any means, but we did exchange words since we were both interested in anomalous biology. However, a reunion like this did give me quite a [REDACTED]. He does not seem to be the same man I had known back then. He is somehow more intimidating.
Next to him was a young man whom I did not recognize, and the senior claimed that this was one of his favorite students. The young man seemed to be forced to be there, as he did not seem to enjoy the conversation much. He also did not say anything.
𝐋𝐎𝐆 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘: 𝟎𝟒-𝐀
Date: XX/XX/20XX
Time: [REDACTED]
That white haired bastard, many things about him might have changed, but there is one thing that is still the same. He is very persuasive. He wants my medication research, which I have kept low profile and secret. Nobody knows about it but me, yet somehow he knows.
In exchange, he can continue funding my research until I am able to find the final cure for the Kyklos curse.
It is odd enough for him to request that of me, and it is also odd when he offers such a great deal. I wonder what made him change his mind. Back then, he was the first to be against conducting research on Kyklos. I assumed he knew something. But now, I am not so sure. After the incident with his own project and crew, we never met again, nor were we in any form of contact.
"What changed your mind?"
"Let's just say I've come to appreciate results over principles."
He is such a dangerous man to work around, and I would not want to tangle myself in such a mess. But then again, his offer is tempting, and I am taking that into consideration.
Though I did ask him what would happen if I said no, he just smiled and said.
"You're smarter than that."
And as I mentioned at the beginning of my project, if you are reading this, I am quite likely no longer alive. But I have come this far. Losing my members was what I had foreseen. Should I work with those who have pulled harm on them?
As a human, no. But as someone who has risked my life and put all my time into this project, then yes.
I value my fruits more than anything else in this world. If not, why would I ever have conducted this project in the very beginning?
Document Status:
ACTIVE
Project Status:
RECLASSIFIED
Funding Status:
RESTORED
Research Lead:
[REDACTED]
Observer:
[REDACTED]
Next Log:
PENDING
Yes, actually, this content was originally a fanfic for Hyde. It's from the perspective of a researcher who used to work on his team alongside Moby, Hodge and Podge. However, I didn't have enough information about these people, and I made several drafts that didn't meet my expectations (it grew too long and strayed too far away from my original idea ayayaya)
Also, I wanted to give MC a personal doctor who specializes in Kyklos aspects. In this scenario, you're one of Hyde's researchers who illegally runs a personal project about Kyklos. Hyde ends up finding out about it but chooses to cover up for you instead. Isn't he a good colleague?
Anyway, you still get punished by Darkwick and sent to some desert laboratory, until one day Hyde comes and personally asks you to help out a patient in need, who is MC at the time. You have made some medical progress regarding the Kyklos curse, which is why he comes to fetch you. However, you have no test subjects, so MC will likely be the first one to try that medication. Poor girl.
It's still pretty immoral compared to this paper, but less immoral because the "you" in that original fic still has some sympathy for the girl and is quite against a lot of Hyde's secret, shady plans. He chooses to isolate you from the institute and so on. Hyde is also a bit manipulative because he knows you wouldn't say no when it comes to helping an innocent girl.
While in this case file, I give "you" a whole different perspective where you simply don't care about what shady business Hyde has. As long as he is funding you, you will continue your research ^^
I want to portray Hyde as a character who is very resourceful and strategic (same as "you") as long as a person provides him with a benefit, he finds no reason to get rid of them. The reason why the "you" in this case file is still alive is actually because of Hyde as well. He worked his ass off to convince Darkwick to keep you alive XD
(the first note was actually there because "you" know what you did was pretty illegal and fucked up, and if Darkwick finds out, they are going to dispose of you anyway.)
Didn't I say he is a very persuasive negotiator? There is a reason why Romeo agreed to work with him after all.
Note: I want to share some of my concepts about Kyklos (she is so beautiful!). However, you know what? My usual theory and headcanon posts are getting a bit lame, so how about we roleplay a bit today instead?
Disclaimer: Like many in the institute, you are not exactly innocent or moral, my dear, so don't jump me for this.
warning: wall of text
ft: Hyde, Romeo
PROJECT METADATA & AUTHORSHIP
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S):
Lead Researcher: Dr. [DISPOSED]
Field Biologist: Researcher [DISPOSED]
Data Analyst: Specialist [DISPOSED]
Co-Investigator / Surviving Archivist: [REDACTED] (Identity secured for active field preservation)
𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐄
Project Title: Project Anthesis: Anomaly Kyklos Isolation and Structural Pathogenesis Study
Subject Designation: Subject Anthozoa-V (Colloquially referred to within internal logs as "The Blossom")
Epidemiological Classification: Class-V Hyper-Ancient Parasitic Metamorphosis Anomaly
Active Patient Ledger: 14 Confirmed Infestations (0 Recovered, 13 Terminated, 1 Missing in Field)
If you are reading this document, there is a high probability that I am no longer alive. Whether that outcome was caused by the nature of this project, the actions of the Institute, or my own poor decisions remains uncertain. Regardless, I believe my findings deserve to survive even if I do not. This journal serves as both a research record and a personal account of Project [REDACTED], an independent investigation into an anomaly known as Kyklos.
Among all documented anomalies, Kyklos remains one of the most fascinating entities I have ever encountered. Official records classify it as an ancient high risk anomaly due to its unpredictable nature and the catastrophic effects it has on human hosts. Despite that classification, I find it difficult to view Kyklos as merely a threat. There is something strangely beautiful about it. Perhaps it is the contradiction of its existence. It resembles a thousand souls trapped within a single body.
Like many anomalies, Kyklos propagates itself through humans. However, unlike conventional parasitic entities, it does not fit neatly into any existing category. It is not a parasite, yet it behaves like one. It is not a chimera, yet it displays characteristics commonly associated with chimeric organisms. The true origin of the anomaly remains unknown, and its life cycle has never been properly documented. This is largely because successful containment of Kyklos specimens is extremely rare. Most of the individuals currently housed within our laboratory were never Kyklos themselves. They were victims of the anomaly's curse. Officially, they are patients. Unofficially, they are also our t̷e̷s̷t̷ s̷u̷b̷j̷e̷c̷t̷s̷.
One of the most frustrating aspects of Kyklos research is the complete absence of a predictable victim profile. Most anomalies exhibit recognizable patterns when selecting hosts. They may target individuals of a certain age group, physical condition, psychological state or geographic location. Kyklos demonstrates none of these tendencies. Over the course of our investigation, we have failed to identify a single meaningful connection between infected individuals. Every victim appears unrelated to the last, making predictive prevention nearly impossible.
My interest in Kyklos began years ago during my school days. While reading a biology textbook, I discovered a brief section dedicated to anomalous organisms. Most of the material was unremarkable, but the entry regarding Kyklos immediately captured my attention. What fascinated me most was not the information that was present, but the information that was missing. Nearly half of the designated pages were blank because no further research existed. The only confirmed recommendation was to avoid contact with the anomaly under all circumstances. Naturally, such a warning only made me more curious.
Although the Kyklos Curse appears to have little effect on me personally, I exercised considerable caution when assembling my research team. Contrary to popular belief, I do have limits, and I had no desire to be held legally responsible if something went wrong. Admittedly, the legality of this project is questionable from the outset. Darkwick Institute has devoted substantial resources toward preventing unauthorized observation, containment, and experimentation involving Kyklos. Official protocols require extensive approval, trained specialists, and Institute oversight. We ignored those requirements.
Many would describe this project as unethical. They are not entirely wrong. However, I find Darkwick's position equally difficult to justify. Their fear of the anomaly has resulted in years of stagnation, while victims continue to accumulate. I would rather attempt something dangerous and fail than stand aside and accomplish nothing. The individuals who chose to follow me understood those risks and remained loyal despite them.
Whenever Darkwick successfully identifies a new victim of the Kyklos Curse, the outcome is almost always the same. The patient is isolated, monitored briefly, and eventually euthanized before significant progression can occur. Institute officials argue that continued observation is both dangerous and inhumane. I disagree. If we refuse to study the disease, how can we ever hope to save future victims? How can we prevent further infections? Kyklos may be beautiful, but it is also cruel, and beauty alone is not enough reason to abandon scientific inquiry.
Following multiple years of observation, our team has identified five primary stages of infection. While the rate of progression varies slightly between individuals, the overall pattern remains relatively consistent across all documented Bloom Subjects.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐈: 𝐃𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦
The initial stage presents almost no visible symptoms. Subjects are capable of eating, drinking, sleeping, speaking, and performing daily activities without noticeable impairment. Standard medical examinations rarely reveal abnormalities, and most infected individuals remain completely unaware that they have been exposed.
For this reason, Stage I is considered the most dangerous period from an epidemiological perspective. The host appears healthy while the anomaly quietly establishes itself within the body. Based on current evidence, this stage may persist for months before progressing further.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐈𝐈: 𝐂𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞
The first noticeable symptoms begin to emerge during Stage II. Subjects commonly report recurring headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, sleep deprivation, and increasingly vivid nightmares.
At this stage, most patients assume they are suffering from stress related conditions or common illnesses. Physical examinations continue to reveal little evidence of infection, making early diagnosis exceptionally difficult. Despite the relatively mild symptoms, neurological activity becomes noticeably abnormal when compared to baseline measurements.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐈𝐈𝐈: 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
Stage III marks a significant increase in symptom severity. The headaches and sleep disturbances observed during Stage II become considerably more frequent and intense. Hallucinations begin to occur regularly, with subjects reporting voices, figures, and environmental distortions that cannot be independently verified.
Many patients display signs of paranoia, emotional instability, and progressive cognitive deterioration. Several become convinced that they are being observed by unseen entities.
It is also during this stage that the first physical sign of infection becomes visible.
A floral shaped mark develops at the base of the neck and gradually spreads across the back. As the pattern expands, it resembles roots or vines growing beneath the skin. The appearance of this mark is considered confirmation that the mutation process has entered its advanced stages.
At this point, successful intervention becomes increasingly unlikely.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐈𝐕: 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
The fourth stage represents the point at which the anomaly achieves near total control over the host.
Subjects begin reporting persistent itching across the body, particularly around the neck, ears, shoulders, and upper spine. Skin irritation becomes widespread, often accompanied by discoloration around infected regions.
Current evidence suggests that Kyklos functions in a manner remarkably similar to plant life. Rather than immediately altering the host's physical body, it first establishes itself within the victim's consciousness before extending deeper into biological structures.
Simply put, it roots itself mentally before rooting itself physically.
The appearance of extensive itching and rashes appears to indicate that the anomaly has successfully consumed the majority of the host's psychological defenses. Recovery at this stage is exceptionally rare. Most researchers consider the patient effectively lost despite remaining biologically alive.
This conclusion remains one of the most difficult aspects of our work.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐕: 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦
Stage V represents complete mutation.
Small flower petals begin emerging across the subject's body before spreading rapidly over the skin. The distribution pattern varies between individuals, although concentrations are typically highest around the neck, chest, arms, and facial region.
Physiologically, the patient remains alive.
Functionally, however, they resemble a living corpse.
Most higher cognitive functions disappear, replaced by behaviors that remain poorly understood. Surprisingly, newly transformed subjects rarely demonstrate immediate aggression or active attempts to infect others.
Instead, they enter a temporary adaptation period that our team has designated the Blooming Interval.
During this phase, the newly formed Kyklos appears focused on adjusting to its host body rather than seeking new victims. This period may last several weeks before the anomaly becomes fully active.
At the time of writing, the biological purpose of this adaptation period remains unknown.
𝐋𝐎𝐆 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘: 𝟎𝟏-𝐁
Date: XX/XX/20XX
Time: [REDACTED]
Approximately one week after abandoning hopes of recovering our advanced stage patients, we observed a phenomenon that fundamentally altered our understanding of the curse.
The incubation period of FCDS appears to average roughly one year. Following complete mutation, we initially believed the original host consciousness had been entirely erased. However, several Bloom Subjects unexpectedly regained the ability to communicate.
At first, we assumed this behavior represented another adaptation strategy. The anomaly mimicking human behavior would provide an effective method for attracting future victims.
We were wrong.
The voices speaking to us did not belong to Kyklos. They belonged to the patients.
Against all expectations, fragments of the original individual remained alive within the transformed body.
The message, however, remains consistent. Every single one of them asks for help.
At this point, I am no longer certain whether these individuals should be classified as living patients or post-mortem anomalies. Biologically, their bodies continue to function. Neurologically, traces of the original individual remain detectable. Yet their existence differs little from death. Their consciousness surfaces only long enough to recognize their condition before being submerged once more beneath whatever process Kyklos imposes upon them.
I have witnessed numerous containment failures, anomalous outbreaks, and experimental casualties throughout my career. Very few have disturbed me. Watching a Bloom Subject regain awareness for several minutes only to realize what they have become is among those few exceptions.
This discovery may explain why Darkwick prohibits independent research involving Kyklos. The condition is not merely dangerous. It is profoundly inhumane. Nevertheless, despite the ethical implications, our team agreed to continue the project. If these individuals were still alive, even partially, then abandoning the research would accomplish nothing except guaranteeing the same fate for future victims.
𝐋𝐎𝐆 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘: 𝟎𝟐-𝐀
Date: XX/XX/20XX
Time: [REDACTED]
It has been nearly two years since my project officially began.
Today, I made the decision to suspend active research operations. The choice was not voluntary.
One of our Bloom Subjects escaped containment approximately three weeks ago. Despite extensive search efforts, we have been unable to relocate the individual. More concerning is the possibility that Darkwick may have detected evidence of an unregistered Kyklos operating outside official containment zones. Several contacts have reported increased Institute activity in nearby districts, suggesting they may already be investigating.
Until the situation stabilizes, continuing operations would place both myself and the remaining members of my team at unnecessary risk.
For the first time since initiating this project, I am forced to admit that caution may be the wiser option.
𝐋𝐎𝐆 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘: 𝟎𝟐-𝐁
Date: XX/XX/20XX
Time: [REDACTED]
The research team has officially disbanded.
Over the past several months, I watched morale deteriorate with alarming speed. The further we progressed into understanding the curse, the more difficult it became for some members to justify our methods. Several argued that our work differed little from the practices Darkwick accuses unauthorized researchers of committing. Others simply could not endure the emotional burden of observing the patients.
I understand their concerns.
In truth, I cannot entirely disagree with them.
Every member who resigned demonstrated more empathy than I ever possessed. For that reason, I chose not to stop them. Whatever guilt accompanies this project should belong to me alone.
𝐋𝐎𝐆 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘: 𝟎𝟐-𝐂
Date: XX/XX/20XX
Time: [REDACTED]
An unusual development has occurred.
Nearly half of the former staff members who resigned from Project [REDACTED] have disappeared under unexplained circumstances.
Several remaining contacts have privately accused me of silencing individuals to preserve project secrecy. The accusation is understandable given the nature of our work. However, I can state with complete certainty that I bear no responsibility for these disappearances.
Unfortunately, that realization offers little comfort.
If I am not responsible, then someone else is.
And whoever that may be appears significantly more dangerous than I initially anticipated.
For the first time since beginning this project, I find myself questioning whether I am truly the one conducting the investigation or merely another subject being observed.
𝐋𝐎𝐆 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘: 𝟎𝟑-𝐀
Date: XX/XX/20XX
Time: [REDACTED]
I have resumed research independently.
No assistants. No consultants. No field teams. And no witnesses.
At first, the silence was difficult to tolerate. Eventually, I realized it allowed me to focus more effectively.
More importantly, I finally discovered a recurring pattern within the biological behavior of Kyklos.
The anomaly does not merely resemble floral organisms, it functions as one.
The entire infection cycle mirrors the growth process of plant life. Human hosts provide nutrients, hydration, temperature regulation, and biological stability in much the same way soil supports a seed. Once established, the anomaly adapts to its environment and gradually alters the host until complete transformation occurs.
The comparison is surprisingly accurate.
A seed requires fertile soil, water, and sunlight. Kyklos requires a human body. However, not every seed survives every environment.
After reviewing archived cases and conducting comparative analysis, I discovered several instances in which Kyklos failed to adapt successfully to its host. In these cases, both the anomaly and the infected individual perished before full mutation could occur.
If adaptation can fail naturally, then perhaps it can be disrupted artificially.
This observation became the foundation of my next objective. Medication development.
𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓
Anti-Mutation Pharmaceutical Development Program
Research Lead: [REDACTED]
Current Status: Active
After several months of experimentation, I have begun developing pharmaceutical agents designed to interfere with the progression of FCDS.
𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜-𝐏𝐫𝐄𝐏 (𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐬)
Status: Incomplete / Theoretical Formula.
Objective: Immunological immunization against the vector’s volatile energy footprint before physical exposure occurs.
𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜-𝐏𝐄𝐏 (𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐬)
Status: Active Protocol / Stabilized Formulation.
While neither treatment can eliminate the infection, P-PEP demonstrates measurable success in slowing progression rates among early stage Bloom Subjects.
Current research suggests that Kyklos requires a highly specific biological environment to thrive. Nutrient availability, hydration levels, metabolic activity, and body temperature all appear to influence the speed of mutation.
P-PEP functions by artificially destabilizing those conditions.
Rather than attacking the anomaly directly, the treatment alters the host environment until it becomes increasingly unsuitable for continued growth.
The results have been promising.
When administered shortly after exposure and combined with strict compliance to treatment protocols, progression can be delayed for approximately two months beyond expected timelines.
Unfortunately, the side effects are severe.
Observed complications include persistent nausea, reduced heart rate, lowered body temperature, appetite suppression, hallucinations, memory impairment, concentration difficulties, and increased sensitivity to sunlight.
Interestingly, weakening Kyklos also weakens the host.
Patients undergoing treatment demonstrate significant intolerance to ultraviolet exposure and become increasingly nocturnal in their activity patterns. Daytime lethargy becomes common, while periods of alertness occur primarily during nighttime hours.
Current dosage recommendations require two injections per month.
The treatment is not approved for individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions due to elevated complication risks.
Further testing remains necessary.
Unfortunately, without external funding, future development may become impossible to me.
𝐋𝐎𝐆 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘: 𝟎𝟑-𝐁
Date: XX/XX/20XX
Time: [REDACTED]
I had almost forgotten about Project [REDACTED].
Months had passed since my last meaningful breakthrough. Funding had disappeared. Research materials had become increasingly difficult to acquire. Most importantly, there was nobody left to share the burden with.
Perhaps that was for the best. The fewer people involved, the fewer people would disappear.
For a while, I convinced myself that abandoning the project was the rational decision. Kyklos had already taken enough from me. My team was gone. My reputation was ruined. Whatever remained of my social life had been sacrificed years ago in favor of chasing answers that seemed increasingly out of reach.
Today I went to get my groceries, and a shady car kept following me as I turned into an alley to avoid them. I ended up getting captured anyway.
There was a man in a black suit who announced that there was someone who would like to talk to me. They then proceeded to blindfold me and took me somewhere unknown to me. They claimed they were Institute agents.
Upon arriving at the place, they still had not taken off my blindfold until they brought me into what seemed to be a building and a room. There, I met a guy. Oddly enough, I recognized him.
He was one of those seniors back in my school days. We were not close by any means, but we did exchange words since we were both interested in anomalous biology. However, a reunion like this did give me quite a [REDACTED]. He does not seem to be the same man I had known back then. He is somehow more i̴n̴t̴i̴m̴i̴d̴a̴t̴i̴n̴g̴
His name is ██████
Next to him was a young man whom I did not recognize, and the senior claimed that this was one of his favorite students. The young man seemed to be forced to be there, as he did not seem to enjoy the conversation much. He also did not say anything.
𝐋𝐎𝐆 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐘: 𝟎𝟒-𝐀
Date: XX/XX/20XX
Time: [REDACTED]
That white haired bastard, many things about him might have changed, but there is one thing that is still the same. He is very persuasive. He wants my medication research, which I have kept low profile and secret. Nobody knows about it but me, yet somehow he knows.
In exchange, he can continue funding my research until I am able to find the final cure for the Kyklos curse.
It is odd enough for him to request that of me, and it is also odd when he offers such a great deal. I wonder what made him change his mind. Back then, he was the first to be against conducting research on Kyklos. I assumed he knew something. But now, I am not so sure. After the incident with his own project and crew, we never met again, nor were we in any form of contact.
"What changed your mind?"
"Let's just say I've come to appreciate results over principles."
He is such a dangerous man to work around, and I would not want to tangle myself in such a mess. But then again, his offer is tempting, and I am taking that into consideration.
Though I did ask him what would happen if I said no, he just smiled and said.
"You're smarter than that."
And as I mentioned at the beginning of my project, if you are reading this, I am quite likely no longer alive. But I have come this far. Losing my members was what I had foreseen. Should I work with those who have pulled harm on them?
As a human, no. But as someone who has risked my life and put all my time into this project, then yes.
I value my fruits more than anything else in this world. If not, why would I ever have conducted this project in the very beginning?
Document Status:
ACTIVE
Project Status:
RECLASSIFIED
Funding Status:
RESTORED
Research Lead:
[REDACTED]
Observer:
[REDACTED]
Next Log:
PENDING
I think "Deadly in Love" caught up on me because I have a cold and a fever dream.
In the dream, Taiga is an idol who ends up speeding. Romeo... I don't know if he's a manager or what but he's nagging Taiga to make a public apology. Taiga doesn't give a single flying fck. Meanwhile, Ritsu is running around trying to clean up the mess Taiga made. No one was harmed in the accident, thank god.
And there is a press conference. Taiga is supposed to make a public apology and a statement about his speeding incident. But instead, he swallows the microphone. And then threatens to shoot the reporters.
I woke up because he also threatened to shoot me. I have absolutely no idea why he threatened to shoot me. I didn't do anything in my dream.
I just like to assume the company he works under is Kamurai's, because ain't no way he can continue his career after that.
Tbh, MC is strong af because if I had to sleep alone in that run down, old abandoned dormitory that looks like a church, I'd die from sleep deprivation before the curse could even clock me. Because what do you mean I have to sleep alone in such a spooky, haunted place when we know there's a spy among the ghouls and anomalies roaming around all the time?
Also, do we even have spirits or ghosts on the island? I don't know, but regardless, I'd be scared shitless. Who knows what's gonna sneak into my room? And what if the spy decides to fucking hurt us? Ayayayaya.
At that point, I'd rather share a bed with Ed or Shion. It'd probably feel safer than sleeping alone in that dark, spooky dormitory while knowing there's a graveyard right next to it 😭😭😭 I'd be dead by that point.
Conducted by: The KinA Institute of Getting Into Trouble
Co Authors: Haru Sagara (Professional Ren Wrangler and Animal Caretaker) and Towa Otonashi (Emotional Support Assistant).
Expert Supervisor and Expensive Human Receipt Printer: Ritsu Shinjo, Esquire (Hourly Rate: 5000 JPY, Plus Surprise Fees for Feedback).
𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐄𝐘𝐄
Thank you so much to Ritsu Shinjo for helping us with this research. I really mean that from the bottom of my heart. However, I must also note that he charged me 6,000 Japanese yen per hour for his legal and supervisory services. Since we are business partners, I assumed that I would receive some kind of discount as a courtesy. That did NOT happen. Furthermore, he charged me an additional 3,000 yen when I asked him for some feedback on the paper after the research was already complete. I am therefore taking back half of my gratefulness. Zero star. I do not recommend him as a research partner at all, even though he is very good at his job and also the only reason this paper still exists. Fine. Half of my gratefulness is restored.
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𖥧
First, let us discuss the subject of this research paper. His name is Ren Shiranami. He is a gamer. He is a boy. Therefore, we tend to call him Gamer Boy for short. This nickname serves two purposes. First, it accurately describes his primary hobby and identity. Second, and more importantly, it makes him visibly annoyed every single time we say it, which is a secondary benefit that we as researchers greatly enjoy.
Haru S: He does not like the name but we go with it anyway.
Towa: ⇀‸↼
Ren Shiranami himself was very confused about why we kept following him everywhere for the past several days. He eventually ended up threatening to call a lawyer because he claimed that we were invading his personal privacy and also his personal space and also his general sense of peace and wellbeing. This was a fair point that we chose to ignore because we are dedicated researchers and dedication requires a certain amount of not caring about what your research subject wants.
𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞
As it turns out, Ren's legal support authority was also our research partner. This was a very convenient coincidence that none of us had planned but all of us appreciated. His name is Ritsu Shinjo, and he is a lawyer and a pattern analyst and also a man who carries a very thick stack of documents everywhere he goes.
After reviewing our research proposal, Ritsu Shinjo condoned that every aspect of our research was legally approved under the following specific condition. We were not allowed to come any closer than five meters to Mr. Shiranami at any point during the observation period. This was a very reasonable compromise that allowed us to collect our data while still technically respecting Ren's legal rights as a human being. Ren himself did not agree with this compromise, but again, he does not get a vote because he is the subject of the study, and subjects do not get to have opinions in proper academic research.
With such a reliable individual on our team, we were fortunately able to process our research further. The only negative side effect was that Ren stood in the background at exactly five meters away and sighed constantly. We recorded each sigh in our notes. There were 67 sighs on the first day alone.
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐎𝐧𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 ᠀
The first day of our research did not go very well by any objective measure. We did not get much detail about Ren's behavior or habits, and we also did not make any progress toward our stated research goals. Ren just stared at us from a distance of exactly five meters and sighed some more. Sometimes he also muttered things under his breath that we could not quite hear. It was not very productive, but we wrote it down in our notes anyway because that is what real researchers do when they have nothing else to write.
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐰𝐨: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐜𝐭 ᠀
By the second day, we were completely and utterly unable to find Ren Shiranami anywhere on the entire campus. We searched the library and the cafeteria and the hallways and even the bathrooms, although we waited outside the bathrooms because even we have some standards. He was nowhere to be found. We assumed that he had tried to hide away from us because he was tired of being followed and also because he values his personal space, which is a reasonable assumption for a reasonable person to make.
We decided to visit his workplace first to see if he was hiding there. When we arrived, we spoke to his boss, but we had absolutely no idea what his boss said to us. This was because his boss is what we can only describe as an anomaly. The boss spoke in riddles and strange sounds and a lot of static noise, and nothing that came out of his mouth made any logical sense to any of us. One moment he was speaking what sounded like Japanese, and the next moment he was making a noise like a broken radio that was also a cat that was also a waterfall. It was very confusing.
Lucky for us, we have an anomaly translator on our team. His name is Towa Otonashi, and he is very good at understanding things that should not be understandable to normal human brains. However, for some reason that none of us could figure out, Towa did not speak at all during day. He just stood there and stared at things with his big expressive eyes and said absolutely nothing. So our attempt to find Ren remained unsolved for a while, and we were all getting very frustrated.
We were about to give up for the day when Towa suddenly just wandered off on his own without saying a single word to any of us. He just turned around and started walking in a specific direction with a lot of purpose in his step. We had to chase after him like a bunch of confused ducklings following their mother duck, and we had no idea where he was taking us or why.
It turned out that Towa was leading us directly to Ren the whole time, which was very helpful of him even though he could have just told us that from the beginning and saved us a lot of running. We found Ren right near the library. More specifically, we found him in an empty classroom that had been abandoned for quite a long time now. The windows were covered in dust and the desks were overturned and the chalkboard had old writing on it that no one had erased in years. It looked like no one had set foot in that room for a very long time.
Ren was just lazily lying around on an old desk and playing his video games without a single care in the world. He looked very comfortable and very annoyed to see us at the same time.
Then Towa helped us jump to the second floor through the window instead of using the stairs like normal human beings. Ren screamed so loudly when he saw all of us climbing through the window that he disturbed the entire building. People came running out of their classrooms to see what was happening. A student shouted something about an emergency. Someone pulled a fire alarm by accident. It was very embarrassing for Ren and very funny for the rest of us.
Ritsu Shinjo made a note:
I reminded Mr. Shiranami to keep his volume at a reasonable decibel level, but he seemed to be in a state of psychological distress where he was completely unable to process what I was trying to deliver to him. He was just screaming and pointing at the window and backing away from all of you, and I do not believe he heard a single word I said. I have noted this reaction in my pattern model as a potential indicator of extreme surprise or fear.
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐯𝐞 ᠀
On the very next day, we were once again completely unable to find Ren Shiranami anywhere on the entire campus. This was becoming a very annoying pattern, and it was not a good pattern for our research because we cannot observe someone who is not there.
Ritsu Shinjo added another note to the file. He wrote:
Apparently Mr. Shiranami has changed his secret hideout to a different location after yesterday's incident. This suggests that he is actively adapting his avoidance strategies in response to our observation methods. I will need to update my pattern model accordingly to account for this new variable.
As reliable as our partner is, Mr. Ritsu Shinjo has a full stack of documents that he uses to study Ren Shiranami's behavioral patterns. He has created a very detailed routine model that helps him predict where Ren might be at any given time of day based on factors like sunlight, temperature, noise levels, and how recently Ren has eaten. He consulted his documents for several minutes, flipping through pages and making small humming sounds, and then he quickly identified where Ren was most likely hiding. He took us there immediately without any hesitation.
This time, the boy had come to hide in a random cave located somewhere in the Jabberwock area. He assumed that none of us would ever think to look for him in such a ridiculous and uncomfortable place, and to be fair to him, it was a very good hiding spot. The cave was dark and damp and cold and hard to find, and it smelled a little bit like wet rocks and moss and something that might have been a dead animal or might have been just a very weird kind of mushroom. I would not have wanted to stay there for more than five minutes, but Ren was apparently very committed to avoiding us and was willing to suffer for his privacy.
The spot was quite difficult to find because the entrance was hidden behind a large bush and a pile of rocks that looked like they had fallen there by accident. However, we were very lucky to have Towa on our team. Towa spent some time talking to the other anomaly creatures that live in and around the cave. These creatures looked like small floating balls of light with tiny faces and no visible mouths, but somehow Towa understood them anyway. They were very helpful, and they led us right to the entrance after Towa explained what we were looking for. We never would have found it on our own, so we owe a lot of thanks to Towa and his strange and unexplained anomaly speaking abilities.
Ren was apparently taking a nap when we arrived. He was curled up on a flat rock with his jacket pulled over his face, and he looked very peaceful and very unaware that his peace was about to be destroyed. He was soon disturbed by Ritsu's voice echoing through the cave as Ritsu reminded Towa not to run ahead on the uneven ground because he might trip and fall and hurt himself. The echo made Ritsu's voice sound ten times louder than it actually was, and it bounced off the cave walls and came back from every direction at once.
Ren sat up immediately when he heard the echoes. He pulled his jacket off his face and looked at all of us standing at the entrance of the cave with an expression of pure and complete defeat. His hair was messy from the nap and there was a small leaf stuck to his shoulder. He did not even have the energy to scream this time. He just sighed one very long and very tired sigh and put his head back down on the rock and closed his eyes again. We took this as permission to continue our observation.
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫: 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐃𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐲 𝐆𝐮𝐧𝐬 ᠀
On the fourth day of observing Ren Shiranami, we were once again completely unable to find him anywhere on the campus. This was getting absolutely ridiculous, and I was starting to feel personally offended that he kept managing to escape from us despite our best efforts and our fancy pattern model and our anomaly translator.
Ritsu Shinjo added a comment here. He wrote:
I must remind you that you were the one who suggested this alternative method of locating Mr. Shiranami. I myself do not condone this method from a legal or ethical standpoint, but I also will not actively stop you from pursuing it because that is not explicitly written in my contract. Please note that I am recording my objection for the official record.
Okay fine. I, KinA, had personally come to an extreme decision after much consideration. It was time to call in the expert that could help us when all other methods had failed. That expert was Mr. Haru Sagara, who is famous for finding people, especially Ren, whenever Ren tries to slack off and dump his tasks onto other innocent people.
Haru Sagara has a very particular set of skills that he has acquired over a very long career of chasing down animals and also chasing down Ren, who is apparently just as hard to track as a wild deer and also just as likely to run away when you get too close. He has a keen eye for small details and a patient demeanor that never seems to get frustrated no matter how many times Ren tries to hide from him.
Ritsu Shinjo added another note here. He wrote:
Mr. Shiranami would like me to deliver a message to you all. The message is that he has never dumped any of his tasks onto anyone else in his entire life, and he finds the accusation to be hurtful and untrue. However, I did personally witness him telling a third party to help him with several tasks without paying them an hourly wage, and I have recorded this incident in his official file for future reference. I am simply stating facts. I am not making any accusations.
Towa: ಠ︵ಠ
We are not sure if this face means disappointment or disgust or just general disapproval, but we have recorded it in the notes regardless.
Anyway, let me get back to my research paper because Towa is distracting me with his silent judgment and his big disappointed eyes and also because Ren is yelling something in the background that I am choosing to ignore.
After seeking out the reliable animal hunting and animal caretaking expert named Haru Sagara, we were finally able to track down Ren Shiranami within just a few hours. It was very impressive to watch Haru work. He did not even seem to be trying very hard. He just walked in a certain direction with a lot of confidence, and we all followed him like lost puppies.
Apparently, Haru had bugged Ren at some point in the past. I am sorry, let me rephrase that. He had remodeled Ren's phone with some kind of upgraded GPS system that helped him find Ren much better than any normal tracking method ever could. When Mr. Ritsu Shinjo informed us that this was highly invasive of a person's privacy and also probably illegal in several different jurisdictions, Mr. Sagara simply claimed that the GPS system was for his work field aspects and his business purposes. He said this with such a straight face and such calm confidence that none of us knew how to argue with him. If that was the case, then Mr. Shinjo had no further comment on the matter.
Ritsu Shinjo made a note here. He wrote:
Mr. Shiranami has asked me to deliver another message to you all, but I believe he would prefer to deliver this one himself because he seems very passionate about its contents.
NONE OF WHAT YOU ALL DO IS CONSIDERED LEGAL AND NONE OF YOU RESPECT MY PRIVACY AT ALL. YOU BUGGED MY PHONE. YOU FOLLOWED ME INTO A CAVE. YOU MADE ME SCREAM IN FRONT OF ENTIRE CLASS. STOP WRITING ABOUT ME!!!
KinA: Dude, you just ruined my entire draft! I had a whole paragraph about your hiding skills that I was very proud of, and now I have to rewrite it because you interrupted my flow. Also, please sign your name next time you have any comment so I know who to blame!
THAT IS NOT WHAT IS IMOIPORTANT HERE AND YOU KNOW IT. MY PRIVEACYT IS IMPORTANT. MY LEGSAL RIGHTS ARDE IMPORTABNT. YOUR DRASFT IS NOT IMPYORTAWNT.
Ritsu Shinjo then added. He wrote:
I must say, Mr. Shiranami, that exploiting such a small screen device to stimulate your brain for over one hundred and eighty minutes in a single session must have affected your ability to comprehend both written and spoken language at a basic level. Your sentence structure is deteriorating, and your spelling is becoming inconsistent. I recommend taking a break from your gaming activities to allow your cognitive functions to recover.
WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?????
KinA: It meant that you made a lot of grammar errors and spelling mistakes in your outburst. He was being polite about it.
After this exchange, Ren Shiranami seemed to have passed out from sheer frustration. He claimed very loudly that he no longer wanted to associate with any of us by any means whatsoever, and then he stopped responding to the paper entirely. Although we could not observe him for very much longer that day because he was unconscious from stress, we were still able to find some very valuable information that made the whole day worth it.
Our beloved seaweed man, which is also what we call Ren because his hair looks like seaweed when he does not brush it, dropped his phone while he was running away from us. He was so focused on escaping that he did not notice that his phone had fallen out of his pocket and landed on the ground with a soft thud.
We helped him keep it safe before we could return it to him because we are good friends, and good friends do not let expensive electronics get stepped on by strangers or run over by bicycles or eaten by anomaly creatures. His screen was still open when we picked it up, so I was not doing anything illegal by looking at it, already approved by Mr. Shinjo. The information was just there on the screen. It was presented to me. I simply received it with my eyes.
Ritsu Shinjo wrote:
I will take note of that explanation in my records. However, I would like to remind you that accidentally seeing something and deliberately reading through someone's private bookmarks are two different legal concepts. I am choosing not to pursue this distinction at the present moment.
Here is what we found on his phone. He was searching for a birthday gift. For you, our lovely darling. The birthday is coming up very soon, and Ren has been thinking about it for a long time without telling anyone. He has created this whole bookmark list with different categories for every kind of gift that he could possibly come up with. There were tabs for jewelry and tabs for clothes and tabs for books and tabs for stuffed animals and tabs for snacks and tabs for video games and tabs for things that did not fit into any category at all. There was even a tab for things that he thought you might not even like, but he wanted to consider them anyway just in case he was wrong about your taste. It was very thorough and very cute and very embarrassing for him that we saw it.
As good friends we are, we took the liberty of marking out some unqualified products that we thought were not good enough for your birthday. These products included a very ugly lamp, a shirt in the wrong size, and a book that we have all read and agree is boring. We also highlighted some very qualified products that we thought were perfect for you. There was a special note next to the whale plushie, which comes from the same series and brand as his personal shark plushie that he sleeps with every night even though he denies it. We circled the whale plushie three times and wrote BUY THIS ONE in all capital letters with several exclamation points. He bought it. We checked.
𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞
We were able to further observe Ren Shiranami in the evening because Haru asked us all to stay for dinner at his place. This was something that Ren was clearly against from the very beginning. He said no multiple times. He said no loudly. He said no while waving his hands in the air for emphasis. But we all ended up sitting at the table anyway while he cooked us dinner with a very grumpy expression on his face and a lot of aggressive chopping sounds coming from the kitchen.
We must say that Ren is very good with grills and fire. The meat was cooked perfectly, with a nice char on the outside and a juicy center. The vegetables had a good sear on them. The rice was fluffy and warm. Everything smelled amazing, and we all ate way too much because we could not stop ourselves.
Haru S: He is not so good with water, though. He has flooded the kitchen three times this year alone. The first time was an accident with the sink. The second time was also an accident with the sink. The third time was an accident with the sink and also the dishwasher and also a very confused hose. I have banned him from doing dishes without supervision.
STOP SHIT TALKING ME IN THE RESEARCH PAPER. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT MY GOOD QUALITIES, RIGHT??!!
He turned into a blushing mess that was redder than the artificial strawberry soda in our cups when we casually mentioned that we would be very happy to help him pick out some gifts for your birthday. His face just went completely red all the way from his neck to his ears to the tips of his cheeks. He started mumbling something about how he did not need any help and he had everything under control and we should mind our own business and also stop looking at his phone. Then he tripped over nothing on the floor and had to pretend that he meant to do that.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚
At the end of our conducted research, Towa Otonashi accidentally ate half of our files. I do not know why he did this. I do not think Towa knows why he did this. I do not think anyone will ever know why he did this. He just picked up the stack of papers from the table and started putting them in his mouth one by one like they were a very boring and dry snack. He chewed each page for a few seconds and then swallowed with a blank expression on his face. By the time any of us realized what was happening, half of our research was already gone.
I was crying. I am not ashamed to admit this. I was crying real tears because we had worked so hard on this paper, and now it was being digested by a man who did not even look sorry about it. Towa just sat there with paper crumbs on his shirt and stared at me with his big eyes like nothing had happened at all.
WHAT WORK EXACTLY. YOU JUST FOLLOWED ME AROUND FOR FOUR DAYS!!
But fortunately for us, we have such a handsome and intelligent and reliable partner as Ritsu Shinjo. I am saying these nice things about him because he deserves them and also because he is standing right behind me while I write this. Ritsu had made several copies of the paper since day one because he is a true professional who anticipates chaos and prepares for it in advance. He also had recorded audio files that he could send to us so that we could reconstruct everything that Towa had eaten. He saved the entire research project with his foresight and his organizational skills and his refusal to trust anyone else with important documents.
WHAT?!!!
KinA: Quiet, Ren, I am still working on the conclusion. You can complain as much as you want when I am done.
So as a result of Ritsu's foresight and professionalism and general excellence, we were able to restore the final draft of the research properly and wholly and without any missing pages. My greatest gratitude goes to our reliable lawyer and partner, Ritsu Shinjo. I am taking back my earlier statement about taking back half of my gratefulness. You are wonderful, and I am sorry I said otherwise. Please do not charge me extra for this apology. I am on a very tight budget.
Ritsu Shinjo had several professional comments to make after he finished reading our restored draft. I will list them here in his own words because he wrote them very carefully.
First, he wrote: You should work more on your academic writing format. This paper by any reasonable standard would not pass as even a first draft to any of our professors in school. The margins are inconsistent, the citations are nonexistent, and the tone is entirely inappropriate for a scholarly work.
Second, he wrote: There were too many spelling mistakes and grammatical errors throughout the document. If I had not reread and beta edited the entire thing from beginning to end, it would have been completely incomprehensible to any reader. I have corrected approximately one hundred and forty seven errors in total. You are welcome.
KinA: Okay, first of all, the only person who helped me write this was Towa, and Towa does NOT write. He does not even hold pens. He just eats paper! So you are very lucky that this paper is as coherent as it is, because I had to do all of the writing by myself while also managing the observation schedule and also keeping Ren from running away too far. Second of all, this is not a real research paper. This is a Trust Me Bro research paper. Those are different genres with different standards.
Ritsu Shinjo then wrote: Nevertheless, I believe we should still take this seriously and professionally to show our respect to Mr. Shiranami as a research subject and as a human being. Even informal research deserves a certain level of care and attention to detail.
I DO NOT AGREE WITH ANY OF THIS. I DO NOT WANT RESPECT SHOWN TO ME IN THIS CONTEXT. STOP WRITING!
Haru S: Language, Ren. There is no need to shout. We are all right here.
SHUT UP AND ALL OF YOU GET OUT OF MY ROOM RIGHT NOW. I AM SERIOUS. I WILL CALL THE ACTUAL POLICE.
Towa: ノ｀Д´)ノ彡┻━┻
Haru S: Ahhh, Towa, do not flip the food around like that. We were still eating. There is rice on the floor now! The soda is everywhere!
Ritsu Shinjo observed the entire scene with a calm and analytical expression on his face. He took out his notebook and wrote something down very carefully.
I see. So this is what a normal night in Jabberwock looks like. I have never had the chance to observe this before in person because I usually leave before dinner. This will be very valuable for my record pattern model in the future.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𖥧
Anyway, the last piece of information that we have is that he did indeed buy the gift that we suggested. We checked his phone again before returning it to him. He bought the whale plushie from the same series as his shark plushie, and he wrapped it very nicely in blue wrapping paper with a white ribbon, and he wrote a card that he definitely spent way too long thinking about because there were several crumpled up drafts in the trash can next to his desk.
When you said that you loved the gift and then you gave him a small hug, his whole face turned as red as a tomato. He turned redder than the sunset outside the window. He turned so red that we were genuinely concerned for his health for a moment. He claimed that it was the summer heat that made him blush, but we were inside a building with air conditioning set to a very comfortable twenty two degrees Celsius.
STOP WRITING ALREADY!!!! THE PAPER IS DONE!!!!
So here is the final conclusion of this very trust me bro research paper. Underneath all of that grumpiness and all of those complaints and all of that running away, he is secretly very soft and very thoughtful and very sweet. He cares about you so much that he made a whole bookmark list of gift ideas and spent hours researching each one. He cares about you so much that he bought the whale plushie even though he knew we would tease him about it forever because it matches his shark. He cares about you so much that he wrote multiple drafts of a birthday card because he wanted to get the words exactly right.
He is a good boy. He is a very good boy. Do not tell him I said that, or he will scream at me again and then hide in another cave and we will have to do this whole research project over from the beginning.
Also since i've seen more than one person confused by this
"The projects" is a term for government subsidized low income housing. He's basically saying he lived in apartment number 301(although given the use of 'room' he may have lived in an SRO, where you basically rent a small bedroom and the bathrooms, kitchens, and living rooms are shared with everyone else living in the building/on the same floor/in the same hall as you. I live in one myself after living in a shelter for a few months, although I don't know if the same circumstances apply in Japan.) and grew up very poor.
I have a Japanese friend who used to live in that kind of neighborhood, and she said she had a 1R + 1K, although it was very small, so it felt more like just one room. The kitchen was basically just a stove and sink built into the room, and everything else was shared with the rest of the building.
I also think that might be why he eats a lot and enjoys eating, and uh gambling too. I can imagine that whoever acted as an adult figure in his life probably went to pachinko parlors and gambled, either as a bad habit or when money was tight. Either way, I think that's just Taiga being Taiga.
If he came from a shadier part of town, that could also explain the way he works. It doesn't necessarily mean his family was in debt and being harassed by the yakuza. Maybe he simply saw it happen to people around him, like neighbors who were in worse situations. Something along those lines.
Conducted by KinA
Department of Unhinged Observations
Coauthors Kaito Fuji (Unwillingly) and Lucas Errant
Department of Making Terrible Life Choices
Deeply grateful to Professor Tohma Ishibashi for his insightful guidance, mentorship, and for pretending this is real science.
𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭
Jin Kamurai is not actually cold. He wants everyone to believe that he is cold. He has built an entire persona around being untouchable and unfeeling and generally annoyed by the existence of other people. This is a lie. The moment he falls for someone, and he does fall first and he does fall hard, he transforms instantly from an intimidating Ice Prince into a whiny puppy who would probably cry if you looked at him wrong. What can anyone do when he is so hopelessly head over heels? Absolutely nothing. We have tried. He is beyond help.
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧⁀➷
Jin Kamurai has perfected the art of looking like he does not care. His face is a stone wall. His voice is flat and cold. He calls people his servants and treats them like minor inconveniences. But underneath all of that performance art nonsense lives a certified lover boy who is one compliment away from completely losing his mind. Once Cupid's arrow strikes him, and it always strikes him first because he has no defense against genuine affection, he becomes a puddle of neediness and yearning and dramatic sighs. This paper will document his downfall in excruciating and deeply unserious detail.
𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐬
There were no real methods because this is not real research. We simply watched Jin Kamurai exist while he was thinking about you. That was it. That was the whole experiment. We took notes on napkins and cried a little bit. Professor Tohma asked us to provide a control group and we laughed in his face (not recommend).
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 ♡
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐎𝐧𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Jin already smokes too much because he is stressed and depressed. That is his baseline. But lately the situation has gotten significantly worse. Every time you cross his mind, which is constantly because you have apparently moved into his brain and are not paying rent, he reaches for another cigarette. It is not because he needs the nicotine. It is because he is trying to smoke you out of his thoughts like a man trying to fog a room to get rid of a ghost. It does not work. He just looks sad and vaguely like a chimney. He cannot focus on anything anymore because you will not leave him alone inside his own head. That is honestly kind of impressive. (prof T: I suggest to make some adjustment on this part, young lady ^^)
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐓𝐰𝐨: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐜𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
The funniest part of all of this is that you can see right through him. You are not fooled by his silly acts for even one second. He calls you his servant and you just look at him and smile and say something like "sure, lover boy" and he short circuits immediately. His brain makes a dial up noise. Sometimes you tease him so boldly that he does not know what to do with his hands. You act like you could not care less that he keeps trying to be all intimidating and cold.
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭
This part is very important and also very embarrassing for him. Jin never thought much about the words good boy before he met you. Those words were for dogs. They were for small children who had successfully eaten their vegetables. They were not for him. And then you said them to him. Just once. Maybe you were even teasing him a little bit. But the moment those two words left your mouth, his entire soul left his body. He did not know he needed to hear that until you said it. Now he thinks about it constantly. He would never admit this out loud. He would rather swallow his own sword. But every time you call him a good boy, even as a joke, he melts into a puddle of pure fluff and has to stare at a wall for ten seconds to recover. It is the most pathetic thing any of us have ever witnessed and we cannot look away. (prof T: and this part too ^^)
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦
You have a single tiny shift in your mood and Jin loses his entire mind. Maybe you sighed a little differently than usual. Maybe you took an extra minute to respond to his message. Maybe you seemed slightly less enthusiastic about something and he noticed because he notices everything about you because he is completely obsessed. Immediately his brain starts spiraling. Did he mess up. Does you not love him anymore. What did he do wrong. How can he fix it. And his solution to everything is to buy you things. He will buy you a hundred things that you actually need like a new coat or groceries or whatever. Then he will buy you a hundred more things that you absolutely do not need like a decorative spoon or a tiny ceramic frog that reminded him of your smile or a sword for some reason (prof T: I remember quite differently, you said you like that silly frog ^^ - KinA: ssshhh!!). He does not even know why he bought the sword (Lucas E: it was my suggestion). He just thought you might like it. Your apartment is becoming a museum of his anxiety and it is kind of sweet and kind of concerning.
At this point you should know that Jin is already thinking about the wedding. He is not just thinking about it casually. He is planning it. He has a vision. He has a color scheme (K.F: I saw Tohma carrying it around the other day - prof T: Fuji-kun ^^ you have quite keen eyes I should organize you to scan some old research then - K.F: !! I'm sorry!). He has been looking at venues online at two in the morning when he cannot sleep because he is thinking about you again. He wonders what kind of venue you would like best. Would you want something grand and dramatic with chandeliers and too many flowers? Or would you prefer something more intimate and cozy with fairy lights and good food and only the people you actually care about? He wonders if you would want a huge celebration that lasts all night with dancing and cake and distant relatives you never talk to. Or maybe you would rather have a small gathering with just your closest people and then go home early and eat leftovers in your pajamas. He has considered both options in detail. He has not proposed yet because he is nervous and also because he is not entirely sure you know that you are engaged to him in his head. But the ring is already picked out. It is in a box in his desk. He looks at it sometimes when he is tired or when he can't find sleep. Do not tell him that we told you any of this.
𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 ❅
Jin Kamurai is not an Ice Prince at all. He is a sad fluffy chain smoking simp wrapped in a winter coat and a bad attitude and a whole lot of denial. He falls first every single time and he falls harder than anyone we have ever studied. He will whine at you until you pet his hair and call him a good boy and pretend not to notice that he has already googled your future children's names. His entire emotional stability rests on your smallest crumbs of affection. A single kind word from you and he is functional for a week. A single slightly off text message and he is buying you a decorative spoon and spiraling into self doubt. This is not healthy by any scientific standard. It is also incredibly adorable and we refuse to apologize for enjoying it.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 ❅
If you have a Jin Kamurai in your life, here is our professional advice. Tell him he is a good boy. Watch him malfunction in real time. Then hold his hand and let him buy you expensive little gifts and pretend that you do not know he is already looking at wedding venues at two in the morning. He is completely hopeless. And that is the fluffiest and silliest conclusion that science has ever produced.
𝐀𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 ❅
Professor Tohma Ishibashi deserves a real thank you because he actually tried to guide us toward proper research methods and we ignored him completely. He looked over our notes and asked where the data was and we showed him a drawing of Jin as a sad puppy. He sighed for a very long time. He is a patient man and we are grateful for his mentorship even though we did not learn anything from it. Thank you Professor Tohma. We are sorry. Not sorry enough to change anything.
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐡𝐦𝐚'𝐬 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 ₍ᐢ. .ᐢ₎
After reviewing the final draft of this paper, Professor Tohma Ishibashi would like to say the following. Though there is still some improvement we can take, he also likes to inform us that our Captain would be reading this as he has not yet consented to any of the research. He delivered this news with the calm and measured tone.
𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭
Should I do more research and who should be my next target?
Haku is the type to take you out on a date, maybe to watch the city lights at night because you're both too busy to travel around. Or perhaps he'd take you sightseeing or to a festival.
The city sprawled beneath you like a spilled jar of stars, each light flickering with its own quiet story. A cool breeze tugged at your hair and you shivered just slightly. But before you could wrap your arms around yourself, you felt the warmth of his jacket settling over your shoulders.
He didn't say a word. He just let his knuckles brush your collarbone as he adjusted the fabric, lingering a heartbeat longer than necessary.
You leaned into the railing, breath fogging faintly in the night air.
“I didn't know the city could be this beautiful.”
Beside you, Haku made a soft sound, you don’t even know whether that's a laugh nor a small sigh.
When you glanced over his side, he wasn't looking at the skyline. His eyes were fixed on the way the neon glow traced the curve of your cheek, the way your lips parted in wonder.
“Maybe it's a lot more beautiful tonight,” he murmured.
The words hung between you, like a secret meant only for the space where your shoulders nearly touched.
His hand found yours on the cold railing, his thumb slowly tracing the line of your knuckles. You realized then that he hadn't once turned to look at the view. The city could have burned to embers behind you, and he wouldn't have noticed.
Because to him, the only light worth watching was the one reflected in your eyes.
You were a bit caught off guard by his words. Heat crept over your face not like wildfire, but like the first blush of dawn. You couldn't help but avert your gaze slightly. Even without looking, you knew he had that smug, gentle smile on his lips.
You could feel it in the way his fingers found yours, wrapping around your hand like he was cradling something precious.
You didn’t stop him. Instead, you slipped your hand right into his, palm against palm. Your fingers interlaced perfectly, as if they had been carved for this exact moment, for this exact hand.
“Stop staring at me,” you murmured, your voice barely a breath. But the corner of your lip betrayed you, curving upward like a secret you couldn't keep.
“Can you blame me?” he answered, and the question was so shameless, as if it were the most natural truth in the universe. “I have such a breathtaking starlight right here."
As if the stars themselves had agreed long ago that you were worth more than any skyline, any ocean, any sunset painted by a devoted god.
Your eyes met his again, for just a flicker and for just a glance, caught between his gazes, the city’s distant lights seemed to gather. They glowed so softly that you saw your own reflection swimming in his pupils.
Then you felt a warmth blooming at the side of your face. His free hand rose with the tenderness like someone touching moonlight. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind your ear, his fingertips grazing your temple. As if the wind had dared to disturb his moment with you. As if even a single falling leaf would be a trespass, veiling your beauty from his hungry eyes.
And before you could even think, your body answered for you. It just felt right at the moment, as natural as breathing, as inevitable as the tide. You rose onto your tiptoes, only just a little, only just enough. And Haku moved with you as if you shared one heartbeat. His head dipped low, his breath warm against your lips for one eternal second…
And then your lips met.
The kiss was featherlight at first, no more than a simple brush.
Your other hand found the front of his shirt, fingers curling into the fabric, tugging him closer as if he might drift away. When his lips sank deeper into yours, a low, quiet sound escaped him, like a surrender sigh, vibrating against your mouth like the first note of a lullaby.
He smiled into the kiss. You felt that soft, teasing curve of his lips. His hand cupped your face more firmly, tilting his head just so, finding the angle that made you melt. He kissed you slowly, as if he were memorizing the shape of your soul.
Each movement savored, the warmth, the taste on his lip, something sweet, like honey and rain and the faint ghost of tea.
He kissed you as if time had stopped breathing just to watch. As if the city below had crumbled to dust and neither of you would notice. As if he had all the hours in eternity and wanted to spend every single one of them right here, right now, with nothing between you but shared air and wanting.
I just assume Elias also has some kind of eating disorder or malnutrition, similar to Leo's but not exactly the same. I assume his addiction to sugar is a way to cope or that his stigma requires him to stimulate his brain a lot, and sugar helps with that. Maybe he consumes less of other foods and focuses more on his little packs of lollipops because he needs to use his stigma during this mission. It's kind of like saving up energy, if that makes sense.
He can still eat normal food, he just prefers not to in certain circumstances, I suppose. He talked a lot about food he had back when he lived in the US after all, so he's definitely a foodie in some way. His diet is just different from other people's me think.
Also since i've seen more than one person confused by this
"The projects" is a term for government subsidized low income housing. He's basically saying he lived in apartment number 301(although given the use of 'room' he may have lived in an SRO, where you basically rent a small bedroom and the bathrooms, kitchens, and living rooms are shared with everyone else living in the building/on the same floor/in the same hall as you. I live in one myself after living in a shelter for a few months, although I don't know if the same circumstances apply in Japan.) and grew up very poor.
I have a Japanese friend who used to live in that kind of neighborhood, and she said she had a 1R + 1K, although it was very small, so it felt more like just one room. The kitchen was basically just a stove and sink built into the room, and everything else was shared with the rest of the building.
Jin, Tohma, Elias, Ed. Unsure about the fifth one though.
Jo? But Jo comes in two flavors, so it's very easy to tell unless Jo only uses his male body.
Rui? No (he cant even touch you). I feel like Rui is way too gentle and sweet compared to the four above, so he'd be easy to spot as well. I'd put Sho in the same category as Rui.
Haku? Maybe, if he wants to mess around a bit and make MC unable to figure out it was him. But again, I'm unsure.
Romeo? No. He has a prosthetic leg. I feel like y'all could tell right away. Haru is the same.
Alan? No. Based on his build, you'd probably know immediately, right?
Subaru too timid!
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
You know what? I know.
Professor Hy fcking De.
You'd NEVER KNOW. NEVER!!!
Another group that I find hard to figure out, and I'd like to call them:
The Virgin Squad: Ritsu, Ren, Lucas, Kaito, Lyca.
Though I'd say it's really easy to spot Ren because, in my mind, he's taller than the rest. Also, he has those signature calluses on his gaming fingers, so you could probably tell immediately when he touches you.
Lucas would probably be easy to spot too. His caramel abs!!!!
Ritsu? Hmm. He's quiet and not too vocal, but his movements are clumsy enough.
Kaito? Bro would whimper. You'd know immediately. Also, he smells like a bakery!!!!
There are so many discounts at cafés around me right now, and I don't have anyone free to go with me. 😞 Why do they keep making all the discounted combos and sets for couples or groups? Why? WHY??!!!!
Yk when you remember some people in a fandom because they interact with you but if someone asks you for their usernames or what their profiles look like, bro nah I can't remember all that!!
But you'd know exactly who they are the moment their accounts pop up in your notifications again.
