The Apothecary Diaries – 17 – Extreme Makeunder

Maomao may be short and scrawny, but she’s also very pretty. She just goes out of her way to look as plain and unexceptional as possible, and we know why: to avoid the attention of most men. But Jinshi has seen her in her plain-ifying “armor” and all dolled up like a high-class courtesan, and he’s smitten. Suiren knows it. Gaoshun knows it. The only one who doesn’t know it is Maomao.

That’s why she has no problem giving Jinshi “the Maomao treatment”, i.e. the makeover that’s more of a makeunder. He wants to look like a commoner, but considering his (probably royal) birth, upbringing, military training, and privileged life, he has no idea how to come off that way. Fortunately, Maomao is as expert at frumpifying beauties as she is mixing medicines.

When all’s said and done, Jinshi, or I should say “Jinka”, has more weathered hair with a plain cloth tie, a darker completion, and a less impressive build … and he’s still a handsome devil. Maomao just knows she was right not to dress him up as a woman instead, for she’d fear it would plunge the nation into war; they’ve been fought for less beautiful women.

While Maomao gets to have a little fun, Suiren gets to have fun with her in turn, transforming her into a well-off young lady and again accentuating a natural beauty and elegance that, now that I’ve heard Lakan’s tale, could well be due to the fact her mother was a comely courtesan. While in town, she gets to drop the -sama for “Jinka”, while he addresses her as ojou-sama—though unfortunately Aoi Yuuki doesn’t bless us with an ojou laugh.

Jinshi is initially upset that their little jaunt into town isn’t filled with more lively conversation, but Maomao simply doesn’t have anything to discuss with him at the moment. That said, both he and we get Maomao at her absolute most adorable when she spots some freshly-made chicken skewers and buys some for the two of them. I’m half surprised her smile wasn’t followed by the sound of a gunshot shooting straight through Jinshi’s heart.

When the chicken is gone, so are the smiles, and Jinshi starts getting the feeling Maomao wants to be free of him at her nearest convenience. He asks if palace life is really so bad, and she says it isn’t. She likes where she’s at and it’s preferable to being out in the pleasure district, but she worries about her elderly adoptive dad, whom Jinshi didn’t know about until now.

When Maomao says her dad traveled abroad to learn Western as well as Eastern medicine, Jinshi is surprised, because only a chosen few are given imperial permission to leave the country. He also wonders why someone as talented as the man who trained Maomao lives in poverty. She chalks that up to bad luck and a complete lack of business sense.

As the sun becomes low, Jinshi decides to come right out and ask Maomao what he was hoping to ask the acquaintence he was going to meet today: How does one decrease the value of a courtesan? After declaring such a question “unpleasant”, she gets into the manner in which the beautiful girls are separated from the non-beautiful ones.

The latter group sells their bodies immediately after their debuts, while the beautiful ones continue to hone their various talents like music, conversation, go, tea ceremony, etc, while many their chastity. A courtesan’s primary value lies in their purity. 

Maomao estimates that taking one’s chastity would halve their value, while impregnating one would reduce it to “nearly nothing.” While these both seem like no-brainers, just as Jinshi didn’t consider how he smelled or how straight his posture was, Maomao’s is a world he’s simply never lived in.

The Dangers in My Heart – 17 – Not Playing Around

Yamada is fishing through her absolute mess of a backpack to find one of two tickets she has for a movie she wants to see for acting research. She realizes the second ticket is in the cardigan she’s having Ichikawa wear to look more grown-up.

Old Ichikawa would have let Yamada leave disappointed, but Ichikawa grabs her wrist to stop her and asks if she wants to see the movie together. Obviously she does, even apologizing for making him ask. But the point is, he did ask.

Ichikawa was worried about a celebrity like Yamada being caught riding double on a bike, but feels just as uneasy about being on what looks an awful lot like an after-school date (which is what it in fact is). He prepares to go into Stealth Mode, only for the first restaurant Yamada picks to employ Kana.

Kana is a combination of proud of her brother and jealous that he appears to be livin’ the life, but scolds him for wearing his school uniform on a date. He’s similarly torn between being embarrassed and annoyed by Kana and that mixture of pride and admiration of watching someone close working hard at their job.

This sentiment gives Yamada an opening to invite him to her next photo shoot that Sunday. She wants him there, and she won’t brook any half-assed noncommittal answers, so he agrees.

At the theater Yamada buys a large bucket of popcorn with the full intention of sharing it. When she realizes she’s on the side of Ichikawa where his hair hides his face, she switches to his other side so she can see him. She mentions how she’ll be in Hiroshima to shoot the movie based on the book Ichikawa read (though her character isn’t in the book).

He notices how quickly she talks about something she likes. I couldn’t help but think she’d talk just as rapidly and excitedly about him. While watching the movie, Ichikawa is reminded of a horror movie he only watched because it had “Akino Anna” in it, and even in a bit role as a mean girl who died early on, he could tell she had legit acting chops.

After the bittersweet end of the film when the love doesn’t work out, Yamada is in genuine tears before checking herself, worried that perhaps the movie wasn’t Ichikawa’s cup of tea. Ichikawa mutters that he wants to get to know her better. Since this is part of that, it’s fine.

To that end, Ichikawa wakes his sister up briefly at 7 AM to make sure his outfit doesn’t look weird, and he buys a cute little treat for Yamada at a konbini on the way to the site of the photo shoot. When he arrives, he sees a sight few get to see: “Akino Anna” live and in the flesh, in all her resplendent, elegant, sophisticated beauty.

The entire milieu turns out to be a bit too sophisticated for someone with Ichikawa’s inferiority complex. He suddenly feels like a little kid among hardworking serious grown-ups. He feels like he’s in the way and an eyesore, so he runs away. No matter how much progress he makes, there are dangers in his heart that cause him to backtrack.

He’s arguing with his cool imaginary self, who asks him if he truly thinks what he feels for Yamada is simply “child’s play” when suddenly an out-of-breath Yamada interrupts, asking him if he’s okay. She asks if he’s not having fun after all.

Then she tells him that this was also one of those things she tried that she considered giving up on. After all, she wasn’t great at it at first, and saw that there were cuter, prettier girls and better and funnier actors. It was only when Ichikawa told her she likes what she does that she decided to stick with it.

Ichikawa sees that Yamada is happy, and so he should be happy too. He imagines the Yamada beside him in her regular school uniform, but if she went back to being just that, he admits he would have never fallen for her like he has. So he grabs her by the hand and runs her back to the shoot before she gets into trouble.

Upon returning, a handsome young man with terrifying eyes sees them holding hands. Ichikawa breaks away, but Yamada grabs his hand back, and the man says he doesn’t look like “an ordinary friend.” Yamada introduces him simply as “Ichikawa”, and the man gives him his card; he’s Yamada’s producer.

When Yamada’s stunning hooting partner appears, she’s wearing an expression made for a magazine cover, only to collapse onto Yamada’s lap and start crying about how her taxi driver ignored her. Even here, among such fashionable grown-ups, people can act like kids! As the shoot continues, the manager tells Ichikawa straight-up that he has a “massive inferiority complex”, which … guilty as charged!

But he assures Ichikawa that he doesn’t know anyone more honest than Yamada, who considers him her “pride and joy.” He then mentions how Yamada is at an important stage, and her relationship with Ichikawa might “hinder her work.” Ichikawa stops him there, saying “they’re not going out or anything.” Yet, Ichikawa! You’re not going out YET!!

On the bus ride home together, Yamada asks Ichikawa how the shoot was, only for him to talk about other stuff about the shoot, rather than how she looked. But then he takes out his phone and shows her a candid photo he took of her.

Yamada says he should have taken one when she “looked better”, but he responds, without a hint of guardedness or fear, “Why? You look so pretty.” Yamada’s eyes light up joyfully just before he realizes what he said and the onset of acute mutual bashfulness kicks in.

I don’t like the idea posed by the manager that Ichikawa going out with Yamada would hurt her career, because that sounds like another excuse for him not to go after what he’s already decided he wants, for fear it might not work out or he might get hurt.

If I were there, I’d tell him not giving it his best shot and seeing what happens, and later torturing himself over what might’ve been, would be a far worse outcome! So hopefully he stays strong and true to what he desires … and if he should ever falter (and I’m sure he will), Yamada will give him the nudge(s) he needs.

A Sign of Affection – 05 – On the Same Page

When Itsuomi brings Yuki to his place, he isn’t shy about getting closer with Yuki. He slides off the couch and side-hugs her, and the two communicate with a mixture of lip-reading, the signs he’s learned, and texting together on the same phone. He notes how comfy it feels being near her. Yuki is too nervous to be comfy, but she has to admit this attention is bringing out her “clingy side”, in the way snow clings to everything it falls upon.

Itsuomi takes out the signing guide she made him, which has been well-used and full of tabs, and the two start writing on the empty pizza box together. She wants to learn more about him, but the feeling is mutual. We learn her family doesn’t sign, his parents are in Germany, and she very rarely speaks out loud because people used to say she had a weird voice.

Itsuomi shows her more money and souvenirs from the places he’s visited, surprising her with an African carved wooden mask. But after her initial shock, she starts to laugh out loud, which to Itsuomi—who won’t come right out and say he wants to hear her voice—must sound like the most beautiful music. When he asks more about her, he prefaces it by making sure she’s comfortable with the questions. She says sure, thinking “if it’s him, it’s fine.”

Kyouya calls Itsuomi to make sure he got Yuki home, only to be shocked he took her home, even though he knows he’s not the kind of guy who’ll do anything weird. He worries that Itsuomi isn’t who he think he is, but Rin assures him that from what she’s seen, Yuki will be fine. Kyouya admits that sometimes guys want to keep cute girls like Yuki to themselves, Rin asks if there’s anyone like that for him.

It’s a bold question that she backs down from, but thanks to the talk about Itsuomi and Yuki, they’re chatting again, and he invites her out for dinner, so things continue to go well. Unfortunately, Yuki is about to trace the word “everything” in Itsuomi’s hand (in terms of how far “if it’s him” extends) when Emma shows up to give him back his key. The way Itsuomi tells Yuki to go ahead, and the fact she can’t hear him or Emma talk, confuses Yuki and has her feeling confused and lonely.

It’s an understandable mistake for Itsuomi, who is probably overwhelmed by having to deal with Emma and treated Yuki like someone who could hear. He quickly realizes the potential misunderstanding that unfolded and chases after Yuki, but can’t find her. The next day she tells Rin what happened and Rin sympathizes.

But Rin also assures Yuki that Itsuomi also talks to and about her with the utmost affection. Not only that, Itsuomi called Rin to ask if he could come by that day. When he shows up Rin makes an excuse and leaves them alone so Itsuomi can clarify his feelings. When Yuki asks why he wants to learn to sign, he doesn’t say “it’s to expand my repertoire of languages to better interact with the larger world,” as she surely feared.

No, its so that he can talk with her. Not Emma, not that skunk Oushi, but her: Itose Yuki. She finishes tracing “everything in one of the hands that is slowly but surely learning to speak to her, then it takes her hand, raises it to his lips so he can kiss it. Even if Itsuomi’s not coming right out and saying how he feels about Yuki with handwriting, texting, or signing, this kiss should brook no doubt or confusion.

Tales of Wedding Rings – 05 – Courting the Cat Princess

Hime is in bed with Satou, about to finally consummate their marriage, only to suddenly be swapped out for Nef! It’s only a dream, borne out of the very understandable feelings of anxiety and jealousy that arise when, say, the man you love marries a second woman. Not helping to allay this anxiety is the fact Satou has been very attentive and doting towards Nef since she started traveling with them.

Alabaster suggests they head to the kingdom of the Water Princess, but their next destination rolls up on them instead: the nation of Needakitta, which is a massive caravan of a capital. While I’m not sure about the spacial relationships depicted—being deep in the forest one minute and on an open road large enough to accommodate a mobile city—it’s definitely a cool concept.

Alabaster isn’t the only one who knows about the warrior cat-people who inhabit Needakitta: Nef knows a lot about a lot of peoples and places, because she’s so well-read. And while she’s initially spooked by the rope ladder they must climb to gain access, she soon gets so excited about all the sights that she gets separated from the others.

Fortunately, Hime is right there beside her, and the cat warriors are a lot nicer than they thought. While enjoying the Needakitta equivalent of crepes with what look like bean sprouts with faces, Hime wipes some Nef’s face, and Nef admits that Hime and Satou are so kind she’s come to think of them as her surrogate parents.

Not just well-read but also emotionally intelligent, Nef also apologizes for hogging Satou’s attention lately. Hime can shrug it off all she wants, but Nef knows it affects Hime because of the depth of her bond with Satou. Nef doesn’t feel anything close to that depth of feeling for Satou, at least not yet, and wonders if that will hamper him as the Ring King.

As for the Maiden of the Fire Ring, she’s the stunningly strong and beautiful Granart Needakitta. After she’s beaten every man (and maybe a few women) in the mobile capital, she’s been accepting challengers from all races and nations. As soon as she spots Satou’s rings she charges him and he’s defeated instantly. But Granart is magnanimous enough to allow him to try again another day.

In order to prepare for his next bout with the Fire Princess, Satou must do his best to get stronger. However, while a quick learner, he’s rather rubbish at the sword (a pity he never did kendo at school), as he’s unable to beat Marse, who admits he wouldn’t even be able to beat Granart. He got by wildly hacking at Abyss monsters, but that won’t work against a skilled swordsman.

While Satou is resting before his magic lessons with Al, Hime has him rest his head in her lap to motivate him, while Nef watches from a hiding spot. She also tells him that it’s fine with her if he’s not the strongest human being in this world. The Satou she loves because of his weaknesses as much as his strengths, and she feels it only right for him to be “a little uncool.”

Satou doesn’t want to settle for being too weak, as evidenced when Granart offers to throw her next match while he’s giving her a impromptu massage. Satou wants to win fair and square, if not with his woeful swordsmanship, than with the Rings of Light and Wind. Just as he was able to defeat a knight of the Abyss King with Hime and Nef’s power, he should be able to handle Granart.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End – 21 – Making it Rain

Serie sits on her throne in a library once in good repair, now crumbling around her (a beautiful crossfade), bestowing wishes on mages while remaining stuck in amber. Centuries ago, she remembers her student Flamme visiting her with her new student: a elf girl with silver hair. Serie could tell this girl was strong, but when Frieren refuses to have her wish fulfilled, Series believes she lacks the ambition to become a truly great mage.

But for all her centuries of life and amassed knowledge and experience, her student Flamme considered something she could not: neither of them have the capacity to imagine a peaceful world. Frieren can, and so she’ll be the one to defeat the Demon King. In the present, it heartens Frieren to hear Denken say the very same words she told Serie: the joy of magic lies in searching for it. One only has time to search if there’s peace in the world.

High above the canopy atop the plateau he created, Richter “babysits” Lawine and Kanne by giving them a little lecture about the fallacy of defensive battles of attrition. The basic defense spell in use all over magedom hasn’t changed because the simplest defense is the best defense.

However, one’s defense relies on one’s stores of mana, so Richter’s philosophy is to overwhelm his opponents with high-volume physical attacks, in this case earth. But while he overwhelms the girls, he obeys Denken and doesn’t kill them.

Denken fights well, but he’s up against Frieren. He never had a chance, but he had to try, and not for the privilege of being granted a wish. As he later tells Laufen, his only wish is to travel to his homeland to visit someone’s grave.

If nothing else, Denken has the pleasure of learning that there’s still a mage out there stronger than him, and then some. In battle, Frieren sticks to the tried-and-true basic spells, making him feel like a trainee in a combat lesson.

When Frieren calls out to Laufen to give her back her Stille or she’ll kill Denken he insists she stay put and conceal her mana. But she can’t, so when Frieren’s staff starts to glow, Laufen uses her flash-step and is instantly nabbed by Frieren, having fallen into her trap. Still, Laufen doesn’t regret using her ability; she knew Frieren probably wouldn’t kill Denken, but she didn’t want Denken hurt at all.

They get to sit back and watch firsthand as Frieren, who has finished analyzing the barrier, conjures a destruction spell that shatters it. The male proctor was 100% certain it would never be broken, because Serie’s the one who put it up, and “the world would have to be turned upside down” for someone to destroy it.

Well, Frieren does just that, and as soon as she does, Serie knows it happened and who did it. Now we see while she dwells somewhat stagnantly in that library, Serie still relishes times like this when the world is upended by a mage—in this case, the last great mage: Frieren of the Hero’s Party.

When asked why she did it, Frieren says she felt bad for Kanne, and that “magic should be free”. Now the only one anyone has to feel bad for is Richter, for his greatest fear is now a reality: he finds himself in a fight with a mage who controls water … in the rain. He gets a tast of his own high-volume medicine, as Lawine holds him in place with her ice while Kanne throws a cubic acre of water at him.

Later, when Frieren finds the girls sitting, drained of mana, she gives them pats on the heads, congratulating them for winning. Frieren never doubted they would, because she never doubted she’d shatter the barrieer.

With only a couple of hours until the first test ends, Fern, Land, and Ubel find shelter from the rain in a cave. Ubel asks Fern about the other spells she knows, and when Fern mentions the one that can see through clothes, there’s a perfect jump cut to Ubel suddenly far away, covering herself, and Fern assuring her she won’t use it.

Land warns Fern not to say anything more about what she can do, because the six groups of three who passed the first test will be dissolved and all eighteen individual mages pitted against one another in the second. Denken, Richter, and Laufen are among those who passed, thanks to Denken’s fists. They all have three days to rest before that second test. Freiren and Fern exchange satisfied looks. I hope that rather than fighting each other—they’re both mages of peace—they’ll use teamwork to win together if they can.

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