u/RealAdamzX

Just saw this on FIFA's livestream for U17 World Cup's Draw.

How do you guys feel about our country's performance in this?

(chemical reaction: Emi + Misha = Energetic Explosion)

Too many times, strangely enough, whenever I revisit the game, there's an odd feeling of nostalgia that already lingers in just a few months. But not just the game, but something else as well.

What was it? Love? Connection? Or perhaps... just how natural the situations that occurred in the visual novel? Really. Whether it be Hisao watching Emi running on the track field with the pacing of a wild cheetah, or Misha casually joyfully chatting in the Shanghai, there is one element that definitely stands out: simplicity.

These moments quietly exist in nearly every moment in our lives, and they are what ground us in reality. Small conversations, familiar routines, regular habits, you name 'em. By itself, they don't mean much, but let it compound over time, and they practically become indispensible for what we go through on a daily basis.

However, as the world rapidly evolves, so is the advancement of technology nowadays. As hyper-connectivity and information overload gradually creeps into the modern world, we slowly feel less of the smaller things around us. It makes regular talks quicker and more shallow, current schedules a pain in the butt and meaningful moments go unnoticed.

Perhaps that's why the stories in Katawa Shoujo did not include constant mentions of technology; it's to show that life has remarkable moments beyond bits and digits, and we should cherish them as much as we can, even while struggling in the roughest trenches of our lives.

That's all!

Have a day full of hugs, y'all!

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the childhoods of Emi and Hanako, and how they reflect the different ways people grow from their past experiences.

Emi had an astonishingly wonderful time during her childhood: She created countless lovely memories with her father, and, perhaps (or definitely), gained the aspiration to become a great runner from him. Moreover, in spite of the deeply lingering pain that she endured after the accident, she still improved and strived to become the passionate and joyful runner her father genuinely wished his daughter to be, even when she did overshoot by trying to ignore it as much as she could. It's why she joyfully describes herself as the fastest thing on no legs, and honestly, there's something surprisingly admirable to have this kind of mindset, even when life becomes rough.

As for Hanako's childhood... well, to put it in two words, egregiously painful. The tragic loss of her beloved parents in the unexpected inferno, followed by the period of long-term isolation she endured at the children's home, even as she tried to speak and adapt normally in her environment, was intensely challenging. In a brutally ironic way, the pain she had from one past became what felt like a never-ending struggle against fear and alienation; it really made her stuck in expressing emotions, even in warmer moments. And yet, even within that painful upbringing, there were fleeting moments where her childlike self still surfaced. Those moments cannot erase what she went through, but they remained as quiet fragments of who she was before everything changed. Yet... that's what made her recovery over time so remarkably beautiful. Through Hisao and Lilly's guidance and love, she gradually returned back to a relatively normal pace, and that alone, even if imperfect, felt more than enough for her to be happy, especially toward Hisao. It was very awkward and extremely shy at first, but through gentle pacing and understanding, even in moments when it was a bit too much (especially that one gut-wrenching intimate scene), she came to rediscover what made life memorable for her: love. It's why it was significant to see her mask naturally being let go, and it's why her gift to Hisao, a gentle kiss in public, was truly... meaningful.

I guess I wrote this because I naturally felt that as more responsibilities in life come along, so is the nostalgic intensity of childhood memories. It can either bring back an immense amount of joy or grievance, and that's what makes them so special to our lives. From my own perspective, Hanako's recovery from traumatic experiences in her youth reminded me of how my own past isolation still leaves a quiet echo in my life. And, at the same time, Emi reminds me of a kind of energy I wish I had been able to express more freely in my own environment, but couldn’t at the time.

What do you think? Do you relate more to Emi, Hanako, both, or neither?

Have a cheerful and carefree day, y'all.

please help me lol

(boo!)

Initially, when I first played (or should I say, experienced) her route, I assumed her to be like the previous three (Emi, Hanako and Lilly). How naïve was I to have kept such a belief.

In the entire route, while I decided to voice their dialogue myself, there was an immense amount of tension I felt every moment that Rin and Hisao met one another, and I thought to myself: "Why does it feel like it's not going to be better any moment now?" Turns out, the primary reason for what seemed to be constant drama and conflicts was simply because Hisao tried to understand Rin in a straightforward and natural way. Rin’s thoughts were abstract and didn’t translate into words naturally. Yet, it is through Hisao's acceptance of Rin's ambiguity that the relationship finally feels, for the most part, free.

I'm writing this post because recently, I've been going through a maturing phase that feels relatively connected to this same acceptance of ambiguity. I thought that life would offer clear answers and clean conclusions, but that rarely happened. In fact, more than once did I witness myself moving on with my life with unresolved questions. It's a strange feeling that feels scary, but it gives a sense of peace and tranquility that feels... just right.

I’m curious how all of you see this. What do you think? Did your life go through a similar phase, or was it something else?

Have a wonderfully tranquil day, y'all.