#myf extras

[sage-reads-things]

To round off the Kuroyuri arc, the Volume 3 extras reveal what the rest of the Yozakuras were doing during Taiyo's mission!

Mutsumi is stress baking <3 She must have been really worried about Taiyo—this is his first solo mission, and he's undercover so he can't easily call in backup. But she knows there's no point in stressing over it, so she's focusing on stuff she can control. Love the optimism of that cake!

Shinzo becomes a ball of anxiety and hides in his trash can until it's over. My poor baby is so bad at stress management <3

Shion is slightly more proactive and takes out her stress on people who deserve it. I hope this became one of those crazy legends about the Yozakuras: "Don't mess with those Yozakuras, man! I heard that when this one guy badmouthed a Yozakura, their sister went on the warpath and totally ruined the guy's life!"

Kengo is making a new mask for Taiyo in case Taiyo's face gets grievously injured. Kind of an unnerving coping mechanism, but ok!

Awwww Nanao is stocking up on meds for Taiyo! Not an unreasonable precaution, especially since Taiyo actually does come home with his feet all messed up and multiple injuries.

Futaba is unfazed! It's really sweet that Futaba has faith in Taiyo and isn't worried too much about him getting hurt. She knows that he'll pull through when it matters. Since Goliath is included in the shot, I like to think that he also trusts Taiyo and isn't particularly worried.

Kyoichiro is also not worried, but for different reasons. Horrible horrible man <3

And of course we have this adorable scene when Taiyo finally returns:

[sage-reads-things]

(Volume 2)

Shinzo with his weapons! I especially love the bullet-stuffed pillow (how is that comfortable????) and the image of a 10 y/o snuggling with a gun that's literally bigger than him. Also love that the camo pants have apparently been a lifelong fashion choice lmao.

[sage-reads-things]

(Volume 1)

This is concept art for the Yozakura family! It’s an illustration that Gondaira drew right before deciding on their final look, so they look relatively unchanged from the current designs. Probably the most noticable differences are:

. Nanao has a bag over his head instead of a bucket, and his clothes are super dirty.

. Shinzo is fully shirtless, missing his usual vest. He also has tools in his belt—it looks like that aspect got converted into the ammo belt he wears strapped to his back in his current design.

. Kyoichoro seems to be wearing two different gloves, which is a cool idea! It looks like it was a "one white, one black" contrast. That might have gotten scrapped bc it was too visually confusing or too hard for the artists to keep straight.

. Kengo has a really cute full-body onesie instead of a sweatshirt. (At least I think it’s a sweatshirt? I actually can’t tell if Kengo’s current design is a onesie or a sweatshirt w/ pants.) The footie hands are cute!

. Something seems to be wrong with Goliath?? He looks so deranged lmao.

Everyone else is pretty much identical to their current designs. Their heights are unchanged, too. I hope Gondaira talks about his original plans for the series at some point, because I would love to see how different the first draft of the story was!

[sage-reads-things]

(Volume 2)

This is just a funny doodle set after Chapter 12 (aka the one where Taiyo is so sleep-deprived that he accidentally learns how to sleepwalk). I really hope Taiyo got some decent sleep after this chapter ^^’

[sage-reads-things]

(Volume 2)

For context, this appeared right after Chapter 8 (aka the chapter where Taiyo defeats Hanawa and gets poisoned, stabbed, and cut up by steel wires in rapid succession). It looks like Kyoichiro is patching Taiyo up, though not without a price! (I honestly can't tell if being able to withstand pain without anesthesia is an actual spy training technique or if Kyoichiro is lying to justify more Taiyo torture lmao.)

Also love the detail that the surgical thread turns into edible noodles when boiled because of course it does <3 Gotta love the ridiculously multifunctional uses for Yozakura spy equipment!

[sage-reads-things]

(Volume 4, Chapter 33)

Lmaoooooo Taiyo got sucked into joining the Biology Club. Actually it's kind of sweet that Taiyo is officially a member of Nanao's club. Even if it's just in name only, he can show support by having his name on the membership roster. You need a bare minimum of two people to host a school club, so having an extra third person helps solidify the club's standing.

I like imagining Taiyo occasionally swinging by to complete the daily chores when Nanao and Rinne are both busy. The animals of course still hate him and try to bite him. The things he does for his little brother ToT

[sage-reads-things]

(Volume 4, Chapter 29)

This is a full summary of Momotaro Without Honor and Humanity, the bedtime story Rei used to read to the kids. It's hilariously angsty, but I'm actually really enamoured by how well this translates the story beats and motifs of the traditional Momotaro folktale into a poignant yakuza action-drama. Making the ogre his childhood friend, turning the animal companions into rival clans that Momotaro must subdue, and ending with Momotaro "returning home" by dying at the hands of his past self—if you'll pardon my french, it's good shit!!! I still want to see a fully realized version of this.

Bonus: sleepy Futaba!

Transcription of story synopsis under cut:

MOMOTARO WITHOUT HONOR AND HUMANITY

Synopsis (all 3 parts)

PART 1

When his foster father, mother, and lover are killed by an ogre, Momotaro swears to take revenge on all ogres. All across the land, the gulf between people and ogres grows wider, and the situation moves closer to all-out war. Momotaro confronts the leader of the ogre army, who so happens to be his childhood friend from more peaceful times. His ogre friend offers up his own life in order to put a stop to the endless fighting, and Momotaro slays him without shedding a tear. And so, the ogres fall, and Momotaro is revered as the hero who brought peace to the world.

PART 2

Even after the fall of the ogres, war rages on. Having lost a common enemy, the various clans of the world once again begin hating each other and clash over trivial matters. An allied army of dog tribes, monkey tribes, and bird tribes rises up in revolt against the discriminatory rule of the humans. As the representative of the humans, Momotaro must destroy them all. Humankind wins a spectacular victory thanks to Momotaro's overwhelming might. But having attacked old friends that he had once fought beside, Momotaro begins to feel a pain in his heart. He is feared as a tyrant who's lost all sense of right, and eventually people begin calling him "ogre."

PART 3

Momotaro becomes angry at the selfish people who rise up in pursuit of their freedom at long last from the tyrant who was once a hero. As if to shake off the sad and savage feelings he has toward his own life, Momotaro turns his sword on his citizens. Then, a lone youth appears to stand before him. The boy's face looks just like Momotaro's as it was back when his lover was killed by an ogre. The youth probably doesn't know this, and Momotaro can't believe it himself, but this meeting is fate. Without saying a word, Momotaro accepts the boy's blade. The face of this man who has finally been permitted to rest in peace is now tranquil, like the face he used to wear for his friends and family.

/end transcript

[sage-reads-things]

(Volume 4, Chapter 28)

Here is the Dark Sweet info box I was talking about! I already talked about it here, so I'm just including it for posterity's sake.