Difference between revisions of "Mikoto Minagi"
Nyaaahhh!!! (Talk | contribs) ('go to space,' they said. 'it'll be easy,' they said.) |
Nyaaahhh!!! (Talk | contribs) (friends!!!) |
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! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Mikoto Minagi''' | ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Mikoto Minagi''' | ||
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− | ! colspan="2" align="center" | [[File:Mikotoprofile.png|300px | + | ! colspan="2" align="center" | [[File:Mikotoprofile.png|300px]] |
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! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information''' | ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information''' | ||
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Mai and Eri: Mai won't ever say she loves me. Eri always does. It's... it's pretty clear what I gotta do. Even though... Mai cares about me... it's different, isn't it? Isn't it? All I can do is make sure to come home to Mai, no matter what. Can do that much. Even if I have to fight. But... I wish it were Mai, even if Mai'd never... I don't get it. Maybe there's... just something wrong with me. But all I can be is myself, Mai! Eri... understands me as myself. Even vicious parts. | Mai and Eri: Mai won't ever say she loves me. Eri always does. It's... it's pretty clear what I gotta do. Even though... Mai cares about me... it's different, isn't it? Isn't it? All I can do is make sure to come home to Mai, no matter what. Can do that much. Even if I have to fight. But... I wish it were Mai, even if Mai'd never... I don't get it. Maybe there's... just something wrong with me. But all I can be is myself, Mai! Eri... understands me as myself. Even vicious parts. | ||
− | [[Mai Tokiha]]: Even though I'm wild and dangerous... Mai still... Mai came for me! Mai protected me... Mai wouldn't let them hurt me... I'm so happy. It means Mai must care about me... means I must at least be important in some way, right!? But - but Mai got hurt, 'cause of me. Mai... I'm sorry. If I hadn't fought... but I had to! Couldn't just... ignore! | + | [[Mai Tokiha]]: Even though I'm wild and dangerous... Mai still... Mai came for me! Mai said she'd always come for me! Mai protected me... Mai wouldn't let them hurt me... I'm so happy. It means Mai must care about me... means I must at least be important in some way, right!? But - but Mai got hurt, 'cause of me. Mai... I'm sorry. If I hadn't fought... but I had to! Couldn't just... ignore! |
− | [[Eri Shimanouchi]]: Eri says she loves me... Eri says I'm wanted... Eri says I'm important. Even if we won't be forgiven, I can't let Eri do it alone, because I'm meant for the people who love me. But... Eri doesn't want me to make first move. Not mostly, anyway. That's okay. I'll follow Eri's wishes. Because Eri and I are the same... | + | [[Eri Shimanouchi]]: Eri says she loves me... Eri says I'm wanted... Eri says I'm important. Even if we won't be forgiven, I can't let Eri do it alone, because I'm meant for the people who love me. But... Eri doesn't want me to make first move. Not mostly, anyway. That's okay. I'll follow Eri's wishes. Because Eri and I are the same... but what can I do for Eri right now? Eri can save me, but I... there's gotta be some way to help. I can't let Eri suffer alone. I can't! |
=== Beloved Friends === | === Beloved Friends === | ||
− | [[Chevaliers_and_Shepherds#Shepherds|The Shepherds]]: Just Eri's allies, at first. But... Shepherds are good people. Kind to me. Would never leave me to suffer alone. So I love them, too. Maybe we do bad things... but it's necessary! Not just for Eri. Even earth is at stake. How can I defend my Lord Brother, or Mai, or Eri, in destroyed world? They'd be ash. ... but... | + | [[Chevaliers_and_Shepherds#Shepherds|The Shepherds]]: Just Eri's allies, at first. But... Shepherds are good people. Kind to me. Would never leave me to suffer alone. So I love them, too. Maybe we do bad things... but it's necessary! Not just for Eri. Even earth is at stake. How can I defend my Lord Brother, or Mai, or Eri, in destroyed world? They'd be ash. ... but... but I wish we only killed warriors. People who haven't decided to fight... aren't enemies at all... but we have to. We don't have a choice! Real world isn't... simple! |
[[Natsuki Kuga]]: I was wrong. Natsuki is good person. I love Natsuki! Natsuki is cool, but Natsuki cares. Natsuki's like cat, acting aloof... huh? Lone wolf? I mean, I ''guess.'' I just wish Natsuki would stop calling me a kid. I'm in highschool..! | [[Natsuki Kuga]]: I was wrong. Natsuki is good person. I love Natsuki! Natsuki is cool, but Natsuki cares. Natsuki's like cat, acting aloof... huh? Lone wolf? I mean, I ''guess.'' I just wish Natsuki would stop calling me a kid. I'm in highschool..! | ||
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[[Shizuru Fujino]]: Shizuru is quiet. But, stands up to loud people. Listens to me. I love Shizuru. | [[Shizuru Fujino]]: Shizuru is quiet. But, stands up to loud people. Listens to me. I love Shizuru. | ||
− | [[Ye-jin Song]]: Very Ohtori. But, offered to help with Lord Brother! So Ye-jin must be good person! | + | [[Ye-jin Song]]: Very Ohtori. But, offered to help with Lord Brother! So Ye-jin must be good person! I feel kinda bad, lying to Ye-jin so much, but... let's go to karaoke sometime, okay? It can just be normal. Mai would like normal too. |
Chie and Aoi: Mai's normal friends. Look out for me in school. I love them, but they're not involved in any of this. Chie says, 'gossip is good for a girl,' but Chie has lots of opinions about what's good for girls. Aoi's kindhearted. | Chie and Aoi: Mai's normal friends. Look out for me in school. I love them, but they're not involved in any of this. Chie says, 'gossip is good for a girl,' but Chie has lots of opinions about what's good for girls. Aoi's kindhearted. | ||
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[[Fuu Hououji]]: I am glad Fuu is not my enemy. I like Fuu. But I don't understand Fuu at all! Even though I did such horrible things, Fuu still supported me... Fuu still believes in me... why?! | [[Fuu Hououji]]: I am glad Fuu is not my enemy. I like Fuu. But I don't understand Fuu at all! Even though I did such horrible things, Fuu still supported me... Fuu still believes in me... why?! | ||
− | [[Kasagami Araki]]: Loud, brash. Cares a lot. Was confusing, but I get it now. I love Kasagami | + | [[Kasagami Araki]]: Loud, brash. Cares a lot. Was confusing, but I get it now. I love Kasagami. I don't like seeing Kasagami sad. But... Kasagami doesn't understand. I can't be Kasagami's knight, okay? I just... <span style="color:#444444;">'''tread carefully.'''</span> |
− | [[Setsuna Meioh]]: Mysterious, but kind. Setsuna gave me thoughtful gift, jade cat. It lives on our windowsill. Setsuna understands purpose. Gives good advice. And, very smart! Setsuna | + | [[Setsuna Meioh]]: Mysterious, but kind. Setsuna gave me thoughtful gift, jade cat. It lives on our windowsill. Setsuna understands purpose... just like me. Gives good advice. And, very smart! I love Setsuna. |
− | [[Yumi Ohzora]]: Seems frail, but has strong heart. Helped me when I was scared and alone. Couldn't imagine Yumi's pain before, but think I'm getting close. I love Yumi. Tama is good, too | + | [[Yumi Ohzora]]: Seems frail, but has strong heart. Helped me when I was scared and alone. Couldn't imagine Yumi's pain before, but think I'm getting close. I love Yumi. Tama is good, too. Yumi... Yumi's willing to listen, even when she doesn't understand. Yumi does a lot. Thanks, Yumi... |
[[Kyouko Sakura]]: Eri's ally, also mine. Anyone who likes food like Kyouko is good person. Anyone who likes Eri like Kyouko is good person, too. | [[Kyouko Sakura]]: Eri's ally, also mine. Anyone who likes food like Kyouko is good person. Anyone who likes Eri like Kyouko is good person, too. | ||
− | [[Chitose Shiratori]]: | + | [[Chitose Shiratori]]: Chitose is a good person! White Omen is good, too. Chitose's half-alien, too, but hasn't been to space much. Space isn't good, Chitose... but I guess just saying that won't help much if Chitose misses it. |
− | [[Steven Universe]]: Protected me. Rescued me. Brought me back to obsidian pendant. ''Saved me.'' And then, saved everyone. Steven really is a good person. Half-Gem, too. Steven's so young, but still a warrior... I know how hard that is. I'll protect Steven. After everything, nothing else I could do. ... glad Lion's okay too. | + | [[Homura Akemi]]: Not quite Shepherd, I think..? Still our ally. Homura's hard to read, but... I think Homura's good. |
+ | |||
+ | [[Steven Universe]]: Protected me. Rescued me. Brought me back to obsidian pendant. ''Saved me.'' And then, saved everyone. Steven really is a good person. Half-Gem, too. Steven's so young, but still a warrior... I know how hard that is. I'll protect Steven. After everything, nothing else I could do. ... glad Lion's okay too. But Lion's special, huh? Portals! | ||
=== Acquaintances === | === Acquaintances === | ||
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[[Anthy Himemiya]]: Wonder if monkey's still around. Anthy's... odd. | [[Anthy Himemiya]]: Wonder if monkey's still around. Anthy's... odd. | ||
− | [[Niramo Umokeshi]]: Kasagami's friend, | + | [[Niramo Umokeshi]]: Kasagami's friend, Steven's friend too. Niramo's nice! Seems like caring person. Having parents is tough, huh..? |
[[Niramo Umokeshi|Sourisi]]: Helped me fly. My ally, now and then. Don't know much else. | [[Niramo Umokeshi|Sourisi]]: Helped me fly. My ally, now and then. Don't know much else. | ||
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[[Chibi-Usa Tsukino]]: Little girl, but shattered ''that''... she's brave. | [[Chibi-Usa Tsukino]]: Little girl, but shattered ''that''... she's brave. | ||
− | [[Ami Mizuno]]: Told us how to break giant destabiliser. Good. | + | [[Ami Mizuno|Sailor Mercury]]: Told us how to break giant destabiliser. Good. |
+ | |||
+ | [[Shigure Shiratsuyu]]: Niramo's normal friend... makes sense, since Niramo's normal too. Shy girl, but Shigure seems nice. Can't eat stuff like me! But, for different reason. | ||
=== ... It's Complicated === | === ... It's Complicated === | ||
− | [[Lera Camry]]: | + | [[Lera Camry]]: Lera's enemy. ''That's'' why Lera kept hurting me with words. But Lera saved me... and Lera said I wasn't useless, just like Eri did. Eri wouldn't ever hurt me, so Lera mustn't have been lying, either... did Lera really just save me for advantage? Even if Lera did... can't deny Lera helped me... I don't like owing enemies. And... there's something... I don't know... Lera's difficult! Lera's complicated! I don't like it! |
Lapis: This feeling must be... caution. Lapis gave up. But Lapis still consumed Jasper. ''How?'' ... Lapis is dangerous. | Lapis: This feeling must be... caution. Lapis gave up. But Lapis still consumed Jasper. ''How?'' ... Lapis is dangerous. | ||
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[[Chevaliers_and_Shepherds#Chevaliers|The Chevaliers]]: I swore Eri's enemies were my enemies. Does Eri know how important that is? I hope so. Eri understands a lot. It's different to defending Eri. It's... a promise. And promises mean I can never go back. Even if Chevaliers are good guys. They don't get it. Eri has to eat. I won't let Eri starve. I know bad things. I can be a <span style="color:#444444;">'''monster'''</span>... Eri wants to give them a chance. To not give them reasons to fight. For Eri, I won't hunt them down, except... | [[Chevaliers_and_Shepherds#Chevaliers|The Chevaliers]]: I swore Eri's enemies were my enemies. Does Eri know how important that is? I hope so. Eri understands a lot. It's different to defending Eri. It's... a promise. And promises mean I can never go back. Even if Chevaliers are good guys. They don't get it. Eri has to eat. I won't let Eri starve. I know bad things. I can be a <span style="color:#444444;">'''monster'''</span>... Eri wants to give them a chance. To not give them reasons to fight. For Eri, I won't hunt them down, except... | ||
− | [[Mami Tomoe]]: It's good she's dead. Now she'll never hurt Mai or Eri ever again. | + | [[Mami Tomoe]]: It's good she's dead. Now she'll never hurt Mai or Eri ever again. But... is it possible Mami was giving Mai something to fight against, even without defeating Mami..? ... I don't get it. |
[[Sayaka Miki]]: ''Wrong'' darkness. ''Unsettling'' darkness. I don't like it. Sayaka is Eri's greatest enemy... if I were Sayaka, I'd kill Eri as soon as possible. I can't let that happen! Sayaka is Eri's exception. Sayaka dies. | [[Sayaka Miki]]: ''Wrong'' darkness. ''Unsettling'' darkness. I don't like it. Sayaka is Eri's greatest enemy... if I were Sayaka, I'd kill Eri as soon as possible. I can't let that happen! Sayaka is Eri's exception. Sayaka dies. | ||
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Rubeus: ... I'm uncomfortable. ''Better'' be dead. | Rubeus: ... I'm uncomfortable. ''Better'' be dead. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Vita]]: People who attack me are enemies. Even children. But this one's... like me. Overwhelming. ... took my strength while I was weak. Left me defenceless. I won't forgive! | ||
== Trivia == | == Trivia == | ||
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}} | }} | ||
− | [[Category:Characters]][[Category:Ohtori | + | [[Category:Characters]][[Category:Ohtori]] |
Revision as of 22:34, 2 June 2018
Mikoto Minagi | |
---|---|
IC Information | |
Full Name: | Mikoto Minagi |
Aliases: | Fire-Mouthed Cat Demon |
Gender: | Female |
Age/Birthdate: | 16 (November 4th, 1998) |
Height: | 4'11" |
Hair Colour: | Black |
Eye Colour: | Gold |
Astrological Sign: | Scorpio, Earth Tiger |
Blood Type: | B |
Favorite Food: | Mai-Style Ramen Noodles!! |
Least Favorite Food: | Curry |
Favorite Subject: | Battle... that's not real subject? Okay, Japanese History. |
Least Favorite Subject: | Mathematics |
Dossier | |
Group: | HiME Sentai, Shepherds |
Position: | Berserker |
School: | School: Ohtori Academy (11) |
OOC Information | |
Source: | Mai-HiME (FC) |
Player: | Nyaaahhh!!! |
Mikoto Minagi is a girl looking for her brother. She doesn't talk much - and when she does, her Japanese is youthful and simple. But she seems to be a cheerful, energetic girl, who latches heavily onto her friends and looks to them for guidance and food.
But as SEARRS revealed during their takeover of Ohtori, the Mikoto Minagi who follows her friends like a lost kitten is the same HiME who fights viciously with her obsidian claymore named Miroku. It seems impossible, contrasting the two together. What a strange story this girl must have!
Contents
Quote
"I'm looking for my brother. And I'll fight anyone who gets in my way. End of story."
Profile
Mikoto was raised in an isolated mountaintop shrine. Her social skills have suffered for it, and her grasp of even basic interaction is questionable. Her strangeness often raises questions, and occasionally stirs trouble, but teenage disapproval doesn't cramp her style. She spends her days having adventures with her feral cat friends, learning about the world, and searching for her long-lost brother. She's been forced into attending this strange obligation known as "middle school", and of course, she always has time for Mai Tokiha's cuisine. Though her Child has never been seen, she is a highly-trained and deadly opponent, fighting with the gigantic claymore she calls Miroku. Worse than her training, perhaps, is her mindset -- she will cut down anyone in her path, be they Orphan or enemy HiME, and the Mikoto who fights seems entirely different from the Mikoto who begs for dinner to be done just a few minutes sooner.
Personality
Guardian of the sword.
Loyal to her Lord Brother.
A warrior who can defeat any enemy.
That is who the shrine maiden of Minagi is. But that isn't who most people know.
Most people know Mikoto-chan, the naive young girl with a bottomless stomach. Mikoto is transparent in her desires, innocent as a child in all that the world has to offer. More cat than girl in everything she does, Mikoto is almost charmingly foolish; she finds joy in the smallest things, happiness in sunshine and surprise in brightly-coloured bugs.
Mikoto thinks in black and white. She's good at judging people, to a point; but once she has made a decision, it's difficult to shake. Either you are a good person, or a bad person -- either she likes you, or she doesn't. Those who she deems good have an easy pass through her mental defenses; she's easily-led, gullible to those who she thinks are kind. Combined with her natural transparency, this makes her an easy mark for those who can make that all-important first step.
Mikoto's entire life has consisted of following a superior, obeying them; she cannot stand a vacuum in that area, though she doesn't consciously realise it. Currently, the person occupying that position is Mai Tokiha, who got the position while it was on sale -- Mikoto was starving and alone, and Mai was a kind person who fed her. After Mai's seeming death and following rebirth, Mikoto has thrown herself into loving Mai -- besides, she loves Mai's food, and being with Mai is fun! She's very possessive of this kind person, and she will protect her as if Mai's enemies were Mikoto's own.
But it took her a year to express these emotions, which brings us to a salient point -- Mikoto doesn't understand emotions very well. She can express her appreciation for the things people do very easily, but for a long time, she didn't realise this meant she liked the person themselves. While her brother (and then, her grandfather) were always quick to show her love and appreciation, she was taught very little about how to process her emotions. It's not that she's stupid -- she's very savvy as to how people act, and can notice discrepancies in their behavior easily. But now that she has realised she can love people, she is free and open with her affection -- too much, perhaps. She also has very poor emotional boundaries -- when her friends are sad, she gets sad, too. Luckily, it also works the other way around.
Alongside not understanding emotions, Mikoto doesn't understand a lot of other things. She was never taught about stealing, or about public decency, or about personal space. Many Japanese customs are lost to her, from honourifics (or even decent grammar) to when it's all right to say what she's thinking (that's all the time, isn't it?). She is, however, very conflicted about harming noncombatants; she's always been taught that those who attack her are enemies, which means that people who have done nothing wrong must be, by extension, not enemies at all.
And yet, to think of enemies brings us back to the beginning. It's an important point to make: Mikoto destroys enemies. Those who attack her are enemies. Enemies deserve no pity, no quarter. Enemies must be destroyed! It brings us to Mikoto the shrine maiden, Mikoto the keeper of the sword, a Mikoto far more ferocious and terrifying than the hungry child her friends know. Mikoto, in battle, is girl barely able to even control her sword -- and this imagery is not for nothing. There is bloodlust and battle-rage within her, and if it is allowed to grow out of control, her ability to distinguish between enemies and hold herself in check diminishes significantly. Were something awful to happen... this horrible trait might even come to engulf her.
For now, at least, Mikoto may be shaken from her terrible berserkergang.
History
The Shrine Maiden of Minagi
A great shadow stretches over the Minagi shrine -- the shadow of the Obsidian Lord. His grip is felt in the blood of every legitimate heir to the name, and in their isolated mountain home, they serve him in all they do.
Mikoto is a HiME. She has known this for as long as she could remember. But she is different to the other HiMEs, those people with Elements and Childs. Mikoto doesn't think about it. Mikoto wasn't told about it.
Mikoto wasn't told that her claymore was the vessel of the Obsidian Lord. She was simply told to keep it with her always -- to guard it with her life. She didn't know that other HiME's Elements disappeared when not in use. She didn't even question it.
She questioned very little, because she was raised to obey, and to fight.
She came to know her claymore as Miroku, the force of destruction which she felt lurking always at the edges of her mind. Miroku, which was in truth the Obsidian Lord's Child, was simply another weapon to her; they were all her weapons, all things she would use to destroy the enemy. Her Child was Miroku. Her Element was Miroku. That neither could be called hers -- that she was more likely -their- possession -- escaped her.
She sought the approval of her Lord Brother, doting on on his every footstep. To serve and love only her brother was the law of the shrine, and she did not question it.
When he told her to fight without hesitation, she fought without hesitation.
When he praised her, her heart swelled.
When he left, she was crushed.
Because he did. He left without warning, without a word. Her grandfather consoled her, and she continued to learn under him, Miroku never leaving her side.
But...
She never forgot her Lord Brother.
That she was intended to serve him was a promise and a contract and a binding force around her soul.
Her grandfather, ever sly and wise, taught her well. He reinforced the ideals which had been planted in her mind, but left enough of himself open to her that she would come to rely on him and to love him...
... so that he could destroy that, as well.
It cost him his life; he did not even falter. That is the way of the Minagi family. Their lives are nothing but pawns on the board.
She didn't falter, either. Miroku cut her precious grandfather open and exposed his insides to the world. And as the killer's remorse hit her, as she knelt beside him and cried, he taught her the lesson which cost him his life.
She was only to love and serve her brother. No one else.
He was in the land of Fuuka, and she was to go there and find him.
The shrine maiden of Minagi left the mountainside that day. Though she could not even properly recall his face, she would find her brother.
The Demon Cat of Ohtori
On the way to Fuuka, she encountered an enemy. And she fought -- she fought bravely -- but the enemy was too much for her. She might have died, but instead, she woke in a bed. She had been saved, and it didn't occur to her to think about it overmuch. Instead, she confronted the enemy again.
Miroku thinks little of steel; even the steel which comprises a ship. Even so, Mikoto could not defeat her enemy.
She was saved again. It was fortunate. She left as soon as she woke.
...
But she was really quite hungry. She hadn't eaten for quite a while, after all.
She smelt food, and took it.
No one on the mountain told her that food could be an enemy too.
Water defeated the enemy which burned her mouth and her throat, and then she came upon another -- one who seemed at first to be an enemy, but who was, on closer inspection, the one who helped her. Mikoto didn't get any further time to consider her course of action; she fainted from hunger.
When she woke, she was in a bed again. The girl was there. She gave her food.
Valhalla's gates opened; the angels flooded forth around Saint Peter's stand; ambrosa stood there in her mouth. It was the best thing she'd ever tasted. It was heaven. It was better than heaven. It was delicious!
(It turns out that in a strict shrine, where cuisine isn't valued beyond its ability to keep someone alive, tasty food isn't a great concern.)
The girl was called Mai, and she was too nosy, but she was very kind. Mikoto liked her. Still, she had to go, and find her Lord Brother.
So she left.
Later, during the night, when she could smell nothing which would lead her to her brother, she met that kind girl Mai again. Mai was being attacked. Mikoto, who liked that kind girl, deemed the attacker her enemy. It was good! She discovered that kind Mai was a HiME, and she also met the enemy who had attacked her before. It would have been a wonderful turn of events, had Mai's enemy not been so relentless.
She had to divert her attention to it, and even Miroku's strength was not enough. There, Mikoto met Mai's strength, a strength called Kagutsuchi. It was an overwhelming strength. Mai was not only a kind person, but a strong person. It was amazing!
Mikoto went with Mai to speak to a girl she called the director, who led the school. According to Mai, that girl would pay for her to live there and allow her to study, despite the fact that the closest thing to study in this place was a club where they only studied with practice weapons. Mikoto didn't like her. But she could stay in Fuuka that way, and search for her Lord Brother.
She went back with Mai, and that kind person allowed her to stay. It meant far more than any vague words about being paid for, about some custodian footing her bills. Mai cooked her food!
Mai took care of her, and so she took care of Mai. Because Ohtori was in Tokyo, and Tokyo was a hotbed of spiritual activity. The Orphans which threatened humanity were the HiME's specific problem, but there were more, more and more - monsters and gods and dark things which smelled of ash and rot. Without her Lord Brother to guide her, Mikoto fought for Mai.
There were others. Not only HiME, but Sailors and Knights and Puella Magi. Some of them became her fierce friends, others she knew only on the battlefield. One, in particular, she grew close to - Eri Shimanouchi, who loved plants as she loved cats.
And there were other HiME. Natuski Kuga, who was her enemy, was someone Mai insisted was a friend. Mikoto was reluctant, but Mai eventually succeeded in getting her to like the other girl. There was Nao Yuuki, who told her things Mai never would; later, Kozue Kaoru would take her position of devil's advocate, first known to Mikoto only as Cassandra. Midori Sugiura, of course, was Midori Sugiura.
But Mai was the most important HiME, because Mai made her good food, and Mai slept with her at night, and Mai supported her when she was unsure. Mai made stir-fry, with meat and onions and bell peppers. She made rice balls, and vegetables, and miso soup. She made Italian pasta. She made fish, freshly-caught by Mikoto herself. And, of course, she made ramen, and Mai's ramen was the best.
The Realisation
It was the HiME who SEARRS targetted, a year after Mikoto had arrived at Ohtori. Cassandra's identity was revealed to her, and her identity was revealed to the world. In a tattered ballgown, she went underground with Mai and Natsuki, and found herself summoned by the Headmistress in order to defend the populations of the Sister Schools. Miroku cleaved tanks in half, but it was Mai's power, Kagutsuchi, which truly stole the stage. Upon it, Mai took Alyssa's Child's blast, and Kagustuchi transformed, and took them to space.
But when they fell, Mai was not with them. Mikoto cried out, and in her grief, forgot her most important lesson. 'I love Mai!' The words she couldn't say when Mai was with her, she said as she watched the sky for any sign of Mai's body.
With that admission, it became easier. Mikoto realised she loved so many people. But Mai was gone.
Eri stayed with her, in the days afterwards. She cried on her, often. Eri, who had viewed Mai as such a close friend as well, was the closest thing Mikoto had to guidance in those days. It forged their bond stronger, closer. Eri became the most important girl in Mikoto's world, simply because Eri was there for her when she needed her.
And then Mai came back! It was the best day in Mikoto's life, and she cried happy tears instead of sad, and didn't let Mai go for so long because she was terrified of her leaving again.
Mai had come back, and Mai was safe, and Mikoto didn't want her to be in danger any more. It was easy, when Eri started sharing her problems as a Puella Magi with her, to justify keeping Mai out of the loop. Mai wouldn't understand. Mai would be in danger. Mai, who had come back to them safe, who Mikoto loved and didn't want to see hurt...
The Monster Made of Love and Obsidian Blades
... Mai couldn't know about Mikoto's hunts with Eri. And when Eri's problems with other Puella Magi came to a head, Mikoto found she couldn't tell Mai that she was fighting for her friend, either. Because a war was brewing, and Mai would be sad, and disappointed, and in danger.
Mikoto had to do it on her own.
So she did. She aligned herself with Eri, followed Eri's example, and beat Eri's enemies. She came home to Mai at night, and said nothing about the battles she had fought. It was a conflict she struggled with, her obligations to Mai and her obligations to Eri tearing at each other. She tried not to think about it, and justified it to herself, and kept fighting.
In time, it changed from being a question of Eri's life to a question of all life on Earth. It became a question of defending Mai, and a question of safeguarding her Lord Brother. These threats meant much more to her than the lives of so many strangers, and it was these threats which spurred her to commit even further to her bloody path. She hated hurting people who weren't warriors, but what choice did they have? The stakes were too high. So much was at stake. Eri was at stake.
It hurt, not being able to talk to Mai about it. But she loved Eri, too, and didn't want her to die. She didn't want Eri to burn out in a blaze of glory. She didn't want Eri to suffer. So Mikoto pushed herself harder, and harder, and harder, all so Eri wouldn't have to expend so much magic, so Eri wouldn't need quite so many grief seeds. Mikoto didn't need grief seeds. Mikoto could do that much for Eri. It was Endo Naoki, in the end, who dashed her hopes and dreams for Eri's shining future. He and Fallen Stern demolished her twice in a row, defeating her utterly.
But when he struck her down her the second time, with a mighty blow which ought to have felled her even were she healthy instead of almost past her limit, she didn't stay down. Fearing for her friends' safety in the face of someone who could destroy her so reliably, Mikoto convinced herself Miroku was necessary, though she had always been taught to use his power alone with caution. She summoned her Child, and destroyed Endo, in turn. If not for Ren Aizawa's timely interlude, she would have surely killed him.
Instead, it was Eri who killed. Mami's soul gem was shattered, and Mikoto convinced Miroku to reveal itself - a conversation strange to have, thoughts not quite her own - so that it could rescue Eri and the other Shepherds from Chevalier retaliation. It was against the idea. She persisted. Sayaka's darkness was too wrong; Eri's anguish, too deep. She had to get them away.
So she did.
The Conflicted Heart
And when next she woke, she found herself attacked in such subtle, terrible ways, with cables in her flesh and horrible beeping machines. She tried to flee, remembering old instructions to survive - but she was too weak, and they captured her and bound her. Yumi explained, when she came to, that she was in hospital. Hospital... the same place Takumi so often went. Mikoto hadn't realised how torturous it was.
Mai visited the next day, and her grief and her worry and her anger were so overwhelming that Mikoto's world was shattered in an instant. Everything was for naught - because Mai was crying. Mikoto realised, all at once, that her efforts were meaningless, because she had made Mai go through the same horror Mikoto went through when she thought Mai was dead.
And in Mikoto a darkness flowered, so unlike her obsidian edges. Because she had no way to make Mai happy, and make Eri happy as well. She loved them both - served them both - and they would never, ever agree. Mai wanted them to be normal high school students. Eri was embroiled in a war. Mikoto knew the warrior's path she must lead, saw it leading away from Mai -
- it wounded her, deep inside her heart. She struggled even to enjoy food, for the joy of food was something Mai had shown her; she felt so undeserving of delicious things. A terrible guilt pressed down upon her, as she struggled to reconcile her two closest friends. She couldn't be what Mai needed her to be - but she couldn't be what Eri needed, either, because her body was broken. She was not smart enough, or good enough, or strong enough, to find a solution which would make everyone smile. Worse - asking for smiles only brought wooden, stiff things.
But Mai was the girl Mikoto loved most in all the world, so Mikoto tried anew to be what Mai wanted. She tried to attend normal school functions - they went wrong. And then she tried to make Mai happy by staying at home and recovering, even though there was so much danger she felt she had to confront.
She just wanted Mai to smile. She knew that soon she would be called on to fight again, and she would not be able to resist the call, because Eri loved her - really, really told her she loved her, unlike the Mai who never said those words - and Eri needed her strength.
And all Mikoto could do was fight, as the war so clearly demonstrated. Fighting was all she was good for. Destroying enemies was her singular purpose, and Eri had so many enemies, and Mai increasingly few...
... but Mai's sadness hurt so much. So Mikoto tried to stay still, tried to do normal things.
SPACE JAIL
It didn't last. The one time Mikoto decided it was safe to take a normal walk, without any intention to fight... she saw a menacing ship approaching, and was drawn into a battle anyway, because it threatened the Earth - where her Lord Brother was, and Mai and Eri, too. They were threatened with vaporisation, but Steven Universe's shield saved them. They then fought a ferocious warrior, Jasper - who thrust a gem destabiliser right against Mikoto's heart.
Her connection with Miroku was temporarily disrupted, and for the first time, she couldn't feel it at all. It flew into the ocean; she hit the sand. Stripped of her powers, she could do nothing as she was kidnapped by Jasper and Rubeus into their spaceships. She awoke in a room with Endo - and no one else at all. When Mikoto realised, she wanted to kill him - but a previous conversation with Kasagami Araki stayed her hand, because she'd told her that she was breaking too much of herself in her anger, neatly coached in the metaphor of broken chopsticks. Forced to inaction, she was stuck in a hateful room. The only way she could tolerate speaking with him was to educate him on their enemy's weaknesses. She found a surprising amount of excuses to do so - because the loneliness was just too much to bear.
But she was rescued by Steven once more, and he led her to her obsidian pendant, stolen from her person when she was imprisoned. She separated from them to find Miroku - and after fruitless searching, eventually it was able to reach out to her. She took it in hand, and met with the others, where Ruby demanded help, because Sapphire was being menaced by one of Rubeus's black crystals.
They were stopped by Peridot, in a robonoid mecha. Mikoto went to struck it down - and was met, face-to-mechanical-claw, with an industrial destabiliser, designed for things much larger than girls. And for the first time in Mikoto's life -
- she froze. She couldn't move. She had no options. She was still injured; she wouldn't be able to leap away in time. She couldn't possibly block something like that. And attacking it would be fruitless. There was nothing, nothing she could do. She couldn't even try, as her warrior's training and Miroku both demanded of her, because fear flooded her, locked up every limb.
The destabiliser terrified her that much. And Steven saved her, a third time, shield to destabiliser. Through Ami Mizuno's direction, they were able to destroy the mecha, exposing Peridot. Mikoto would have executed her despite being already defeated, moved both by her terror and Miroku's terrible anger - but she disappeared. There were few things which could distract Mikoto from her rage, in that moment.
An honest, unfiltered show of love and affection and romance between Ruby and Sapphire turned out to be one of those few things. In the brief moments she saw them reunited as a pair, Mikoto found herself thinking of a certain face. Is that what being attracted to girls meant? And why, then, would it make her think of...
Questions which were quickly ignored and suppressed. Ruby and Sapphire fused together, became Garnet, her enemy. She directed them to the prisoners still captured... and they walked right into a trap. A trap which they had no hope of defeating - but they didn't have to. There were others, who had come to save them. Lancelot had come to save her. Mai had come to save her.
And Mikoto, who had felt so despondent over Mai's coddling, despaired so much over Mai's inability to return her love, was overjoyed to see that Mai cared so much. Surely, this meant Mikoto was still important to her! Because Mai wouldn't let anything hurt her - not even the words of an enemy. But Mai was hurt, in the fight against Rubeus, where Mikoto fought so hard because Mai bid her to destroy her enemies. Never mind that Mikoto's healing injuries were also aggravated - Mai was hurt! It was through Lancelot's help that they were all able to flee; it was through the efforts of several that they were able to escape. (Notably, Steven's bubble protected them from the impact. That's four times he saved her.)
Jasper survived the crash - but she didn't survive fusion with Lapis, who dragged her into the ocean as Malachite. Mikoto used Eri's words, to try and convince Lapis not to do it; words she didn't really believe herself, but the only ones she could think of which might not have made everything worse. But in the end, Lapis's own feelings made even the threat of their fusion a distant thing, lodged at the bottom of the ocean.
Powers/Abilities
Mikoto has exceedingly good senses. She can track via scent, see things from far away, and detect even small variations in taste. (So please don't feed her spicy food.)
She is suspiciously well trained when it comes to battle. Her sword, called Miroku, is always by her side... and even if she does lose it, she can just summon it back to herself. But it is not her Child. Her Child has been seen, now - if only once. Confusingly, they're both called Miroku.
Unfortunately, to compensate for her warrior's ability, she also has an incredibly fast metabolism. When she crashes from hunger, she crashes hard!
Talents and Weaknesses
Mikoto is a finely-tuned food-destroying machine. So long as it isn't spicy, and the food is otherwise pleasant, she can tear through it as if inhaling. Due to her senses, she's also very good at figuring out whether food has gone bad!
Mikoto grew up in a mountainous shrine, and so she is adapted to outdoor life. She's so good at climbing trees that she often takes naps atop their branches! In the city, she's translated these arboreal skills to roof-hopping, jumping from awning to sign to fire exit with aplomb.
Also due to growing up in one, Mikoto knows her way around shrines. It's one of the few areas where she knows the social rules well enough to not shock anyone.
Mikoto was tutored in Japanese history as part of her studies growing up, so it's one of the few school subjects where she doesn't flounder. While she can only hope to get Ds or Cs in most of her subjects, she's consistently a B-student in Japanese History. It's the one thing - aside from her good PE scores - which saves her from cram school!
Mikoto is good at calligraphy, another thing she learned growing up, and her handwriting is surprisingly pleasant because of it. Her penmanship earns her a few more points in Japanese class, despite her poor grammar, letting her scrape by a 'poor' grade average in that class.
Mikoto has gotten better at speaking Japanese, over the time she's spent in Tokyo. Grammatical things like articles still elude her a frustrating amount of the time, and she still prefers the most simple and direct way to say what she means, but she understands a lot more than she did when she started. If she puts the effort in, she can almost talk normally... but it is an effort, and one she doesn't always care to make.
And while Mikoto may not always speak Japanese perfectly, she's fluent in cat body language and their various meows. She learned from the shrine cats at a young age, after all.
However...
Mikoto wasn't raised with an eye towards social skills. She knew very few people growing up, all part of her family, and her training was focused heavily on fighting and topics adjacent to the fight. Her speech wasn't corrected, and she wasn't taught about many fundamental topics. It means that she's terribly unbalanced; even though she's a fright on the battlefield, she often seems ignorant outside of it.
Mikoto is an extremely sensory person, and has trouble thinking of words to express her thoughts, a problem compounded by her life growing up. She's grown better at it with time, but she still needs a calm atmosphere to be able to speak precisely. Sensory overload troubles her, as well, a problem most succinctly expressed by her reaction to spicy food.
Mikoto remembers little of her childhood, and nostalgic reminders can often shut her down while her brain struggles with connections it can't quite make. She has traumatic reactions to many things, though she doesn't recognise them as traumatic. Even in the present day, if something happens which is too difficult for her to absorb, she will just dissociate from the knowledge so that she can keep being the cheerful girl she is.
Mikoto is self-centred, though not in any malicious sense. She understands people through her own reactions to them, and usually falls prey to the typical mind fallacy, thinking that other people must feel the same way she does. Though she genuinely cares about her friends, her attempts to fix their problems often amount to telling them to 'just smile!', and she's troubled when the advice which helps her doesn't help others. She's realised, now, how useless that advice is... at least in regards to Mai Tokiha.
Mikoto tends to decide whether someone is good or bad upon meeting them, in an easily-predictable and easily-manipulable way. She shuts herself off from people she considers bad, and doesn't guard herself around people she considers good. There are a few people who have switched categories, so she's capable of changing her mind, but it takes a great effort to do so. People who skirt those categories are extremely frustrating to Mikoto, and she tends to react by even more firmly categorising them as 'good' or 'bad'.
Mikoto is bottom-barrel in all of her other classes, only managing to escape abject failure due to Mai's heroic efforts. At times, her scholarship seems thinly-justified, because she's simply so bad at things like mathematics and science.
Rumours
Around School:
- She's a transfer student who came here in the 9th grade!
... I heard no one knows where she came from, and even her school records are a total mess!
... I heard it couldn't possibly be Juuban, even though she's so simple!
... I heard she's actually a delinquent who was sent to such a civilised place as one last chance for redemption!
... how terrible!
- She's a terrible student, especially in science and maths!
... I heard the only reason she doesn't fail is her roommate!
... I heard she's actually really good at Japanese history!
... I heard she skips class a lot!
... how terrible!
- She can be so rude!
... I heard she never says more than three words to anyone!
... I heard she looks down on everyone, and that's why she's not in any clubs!
... I heard she doesn't care about our money or status at all!
... how terrible!
- She really doesn't understand social interaction!
... I heard she just doesn't care!
... I heard she doesn't use honorifics and always calls people by their first names!
... I heard she's totally unaffected by hot guys, and, scandalous as it is, hot girls too!
... how terrible!
- Some of the girls kind of pick on her, huh?
... I heard she's a little kid who somehow skipped enough grades to end up in high school!
... I heard she's a total weirdo who stares too much!
... I heard she's a totally oblivious and ignorant country bumpkin!
... how terrible!
- She's the demon cat who lurks in Ohtori, running around the rooftops and through the trees!
... I heard it has terrible glowing yellow eyes, and it's wreathed in shadow!
... I heard that it spit fire and smoke, and it wouldn't listen to reason at all!
... I heard it just stares at all the boys like it's trying to figure out who to eat!
... how terrible!
- She's a mysterious golfer-chan who always carries her clubs with her!
... I heard she's bound by oath never to play again!
... I heard her abilities are so amazing, she's just waiting for an opponent worthy of her skill!
... I heard she's actually awful at golf!
... how terrible!
- She has this weird ability to make friends with any cat on campus!
... I heard it's because she's really a cat in human form!
... I heard she's a cat priestess - I saw how she acted at a shrine once!
... I heard she's amassing a cat army, and when she reaches her full power, she's going to take over Ohtori!
... how terrible!
Magical Girl Rumours:
- Oh, Mikoto? She's a HiME, I learned that when Ohtori was taken over!
- She's a Shepherd, right? She's been fighting alongside them for a long time now.
- She wields this giant black claymore, and she never, ever lets it go!
- She never talks when she's in a fight... all she does is scream. She's like one of those berserkers, you know?
Relationships
Family
Lord Brother: Lord Brother, your face blurs to me. So much I forget. I must find you, soon. I wish you were here to take care of me... everything is so complicated without you, Lord Brother. I'm trying my best, but it just keeps getting messed up!
Grandfather: I made a promise. I will complete. Why does my heart hurt, when I think of you? I don't want to remember...
Miroku: My blade, my promise, my ward. The weapon I am fashioned. You think Miroku defends me? I defend Miroku. ... Miroku, I'm so, sorry. I protect Miroku always, for this my life's sworn, but then - with that awful weapon - I couldn't! I couldn't hear Miroku, couldn't call Miroku back! I never want to go through that again. Being separated from Miroku was worst feeling I've ever felt. We belong together. Can't be apart. We share an obsidian heart... and it was torn apart... how could I let myself get hit by something like that?! And then, with bigger one, I - I just froze - I was so scared... I couldn't do anything, had no options... just, fear... forgive me, Miroku!
Very Important People
Mai and Eri: Mai won't ever say she loves me. Eri always does. It's... it's pretty clear what I gotta do. Even though... Mai cares about me... it's different, isn't it? Isn't it? All I can do is make sure to come home to Mai, no matter what. Can do that much. Even if I have to fight. But... I wish it were Mai, even if Mai'd never... I don't get it. Maybe there's... just something wrong with me. But all I can be is myself, Mai! Eri... understands me as myself. Even vicious parts.
Mai Tokiha: Even though I'm wild and dangerous... Mai still... Mai came for me! Mai said she'd always come for me! Mai protected me... Mai wouldn't let them hurt me... I'm so happy. It means Mai must care about me... means I must at least be important in some way, right!? But - but Mai got hurt, 'cause of me. Mai... I'm sorry. If I hadn't fought... but I had to! Couldn't just... ignore!
Eri Shimanouchi: Eri says she loves me... Eri says I'm wanted... Eri says I'm important. Even if we won't be forgiven, I can't let Eri do it alone, because I'm meant for the people who love me. But... Eri doesn't want me to make first move. Not mostly, anyway. That's okay. I'll follow Eri's wishes. Because Eri and I are the same... but what can I do for Eri right now? Eri can save me, but I... there's gotta be some way to help. I can't let Eri suffer alone. I can't!
Beloved Friends
The Shepherds: Just Eri's allies, at first. But... Shepherds are good people. Kind to me. Would never leave me to suffer alone. So I love them, too. Maybe we do bad things... but it's necessary! Not just for Eri. Even earth is at stake. How can I defend my Lord Brother, or Mai, or Eri, in destroyed world? They'd be ash. ... but... but I wish we only killed warriors. People who haven't decided to fight... aren't enemies at all... but we have to. We don't have a choice! Real world isn't... simple!
Natsuki Kuga: I was wrong. Natsuki is good person. I love Natsuki! Natsuki is cool, but Natsuki cares. Natsuki's like cat, acting aloof... huh? Lone wolf? I mean, I guess. I just wish Natsuki would stop calling me a kid. I'm in highschool..!
Midori Sugiura: Midori is such fun person! I love Midori. Midori's class is only writing class I'm good at. Glad just one teacher isn't disappointed.
Nao Yuuki: Don't care what people say. I know Nao is good person. I love Nao. Nao's a good friend, and important to me. Tells me stuff other people won't. We get in trouble sometimes. It's fun.
Yukino Kikukawa: Yukino's good person! Quiet, but nice, and smart too. Notices lots of things. I love Yukino.
Shizuru Fujino: Shizuru is quiet. But, stands up to loud people. Listens to me. I love Shizuru.
Ye-jin Song: Very Ohtori. But, offered to help with Lord Brother! So Ye-jin must be good person! I feel kinda bad, lying to Ye-jin so much, but... let's go to karaoke sometime, okay? It can just be normal. Mai would like normal too.
Chie and Aoi: Mai's normal friends. Look out for me in school. I love them, but they're not involved in any of this. Chie says, 'gossip is good for a girl,' but Chie has lots of opinions about what's good for girls. Aoi's kindhearted.
Cat Friends: My normal friends. Hey, I have normal friends too! I'm friends with all cats on Ohtori! And all other cats, but don't get as many chances to be friends with them. Some yearling kittens have attached to me a lot! Mori's black and white, doesn't like people, but she likes me. Momo's brown tabby, and she's so playful! Fuku's orange tabby, sleepyhead, he likes strangers. Kita's calico, polite refined lady just like Ohtori. ... used to be another one, but Fuku's brother Ichi... the war was... I couldn't focus... and, winter... it's hard for strays.
Takeo Akamizu: Takeo is good person, good taste in food. And... helped save me. Helped get Mai out. ... I'm glad Takeo likes Mai. Mai deserves to be liked!
Fuu Hououji: I am glad Fuu is not my enemy. I like Fuu. But I don't understand Fuu at all! Even though I did such horrible things, Fuu still supported me... Fuu still believes in me... why?!
Kasagami Araki: Loud, brash. Cares a lot. Was confusing, but I get it now. I love Kasagami. I don't like seeing Kasagami sad. But... Kasagami doesn't understand. I can't be Kasagami's knight, okay? I just... tread carefully.
Setsuna Meioh: Mysterious, but kind. Setsuna gave me thoughtful gift, jade cat. It lives on our windowsill. Setsuna understands purpose... just like me. Gives good advice. And, very smart! I love Setsuna.
Yumi Ohzora: Seems frail, but has strong heart. Helped me when I was scared and alone. Couldn't imagine Yumi's pain before, but think I'm getting close. I love Yumi. Tama is good, too. Yumi... Yumi's willing to listen, even when she doesn't understand. Yumi does a lot. Thanks, Yumi...
Kyouko Sakura: Eri's ally, also mine. Anyone who likes food like Kyouko is good person. Anyone who likes Eri like Kyouko is good person, too.
Chitose Shiratori: Chitose is a good person! White Omen is good, too. Chitose's half-alien, too, but hasn't been to space much. Space isn't good, Chitose... but I guess just saying that won't help much if Chitose misses it.
Homura Akemi: Not quite Shepherd, I think..? Still our ally. Homura's hard to read, but... I think Homura's good.
Steven Universe: Protected me. Rescued me. Brought me back to obsidian pendant. Saved me. And then, saved everyone. Steven really is a good person. Half-Gem, too. Steven's so young, but still a warrior... I know how hard that is. I'll protect Steven. After everything, nothing else I could do. ... glad Lion's okay too. But Lion's special, huh? Portals!
Acquaintances
Georgia Jenks: Normal classmate. Not from here. Has big sense of humour. Hope I didn't hurt her.
Usagi Tsukino: Usagi's good person. Passionate. Not a warrior. Haven't spoken much.
Sailor Moon: Strong.
Utena Tenjou: ... haven't talked to Utena in long time. But, I'm glad... Utena isn't like me.
Anthy Himemiya: Wonder if monkey's still around. Anthy's... odd.
Niramo Umokeshi: Kasagami's friend, Steven's friend too. Niramo's nice! Seems like caring person. Having parents is tough, huh..?
Sourisi: Helped me fly. My ally, now and then. Don't know much else.
Nori Ankou: ... very quiet girl.
Madoka Kaname: ... not a warrior, Eri said. Not my enemy. Not my friend, either... but not a target.
Kimiko Akane: Normal girl. Seems like Kimiko cares a lot, but doesn't understand what I say all the time. I still hope Kimiko finds something to like about Ohtori.
Cure Bloom: Yells like me.
Chibi-Usa Tsukino: Little girl, but shattered that... she's brave.
Sailor Mercury: Told us how to break giant destabiliser. Good.
Shigure Shiratsuyu: Niramo's normal friend... makes sense, since Niramo's normal too. Shy girl, but Shigure seems nice. Can't eat stuff like me! But, for different reason.
... It's Complicated
Lera Camry: Lera's enemy. That's why Lera kept hurting me with words. But Lera saved me... and Lera said I wasn't useless, just like Eri did. Eri wouldn't ever hurt me, so Lera mustn't have been lying, either... did Lera really just save me for advantage? Even if Lera did... can't deny Lera helped me... I don't like owing enemies. And... there's something... I don't know... Lera's difficult! Lera's complicated! I don't like it!
Lapis: This feeling must be... caution. Lapis gave up. But Lapis still consumed Jasper. How? ... Lapis is dangerous.
Enemies
The Chevaliers: I swore Eri's enemies were my enemies. Does Eri know how important that is? I hope so. Eri understands a lot. It's different to defending Eri. It's... a promise. And promises mean I can never go back. Even if Chevaliers are good guys. They don't get it. Eri has to eat. I won't let Eri starve. I know bad things. I can be a monster... Eri wants to give them a chance. To not give them reasons to fight. For Eri, I won't hunt them down, except...
Mami Tomoe: It's good she's dead. Now she'll never hurt Mai or Eri ever again. But... is it possible Mami was giving Mai something to fight against, even without defeating Mami..? ... I don't get it.
Sayaka Miki: Wrong darkness. Unsettling darkness. I don't like it. Sayaka is Eri's greatest enemy... if I were Sayaka, I'd kill Eri as soon as possible. I can't let that happen! Sayaka is Eri's exception. Sayaka dies.
Garnet: Garnet smells of nothing. Strange. My enemy, now. Also, fusion, two gems made stronger by love. ... I really... don't understand why Garnet protected me. Or why Garnet accepted me there. Bothers me. Doesn't make sense.
Ruby: Very loud. Good distraction. Ruby's passion feels familiar. And... I'm glad Ruby found Sapphire. ... I guess they're enemies too.
Sapphire: Sings. Made ice, I guess. Seeing them so happy... is what being sweet on girls means? ... I don't really get it. But I guess they'd never tell me. They're Garnet. Garnet's an enemy.
Endo Naoki: Fallen Stern's wielder. Endo's my exception. Endo dies, too. Maybe revenge really will make it worse... but Endo'll listen to Fallen Stern eventually. Fallen Stern is old like Miroku. Ancient blades can't be denied. Besides, Endo's focused on keeping friends safe. Just like me. So I know what that means. ... I hate how Endo saw me so weak. I hate how Endo knows stuff about me now. I hate how I had to speak to Endo. I hate how Endo was only one I had. I hate how I left Endo alive again. But Endo hates me as much as I hate Endo. Makes it easy...
Ren Aizawa: Intervened without warning. She's strong. People who attack me are enemies. ... but I still couldn't leave her wondering. If I came to rescue someone I'd kill for, and found nothing... it's just chopsticks. She'd blame me. That's all.
La Sirene de Diamant: Glittering, now. Salt-smell and danger. She's seen Miroku. What will she do with that knowledge?
Kozue Kaoru: ... stand with my enemy, fight alongside my enemy, become my enemy. Enemies must be destroyed.
PRiNCESS Ye-jin: Masked stranger. Whip-wielder. Fast! Too fast!
Jasper: Trapped in ocean's better fate than Jasper deserves. But... I guess Jasper's gone now. Beyond reach. Ocean's too deep, even for me, Miroku.
Peridot: If she ever comes back, I'm gonna kill her.
Rubeus: ... I'm uncomfortable. Better be dead.
Vita: People who attack me are enemies. Even children. But this one's... like me. Overwhelming. ... took my strength while I was weak. Left me defenceless. I won't forgive!
Trivia
- The kanji of Mikoto's last name, 美袋, are difficult to read for anyone who hasn't heard them said out loud, because their reading is decidedly non-standard. She shares her surname with the Minagi village in the Okayama Prefecture - but even if there's any relation, Mikoto herself never spent any time there, sequestered up in her mountain shrine as she was.
- Meanwhile, the kanji of Mikoto's first name, 命, references the Shinto concept of mikoto mochi, a medium who receives the honourable words (mikoto) of a kami. Unfortunately, the so-called kami of the Minagi Shrine is not very nice.
- 'Lord Brother' is a fanciful translation of the formal and archaic term Mikoto uses to refer to her older brother, aniue, and obliquely references his true identity as the Obsidian Lord.
- Aside from the Mai-HiME anime, Mikoto's history draws from Mai-HiME EXA canon.
Gallery
Logs
- 2013-10-18 - "So if it's not my cooking, you'd rather just starve?"
- 2014-04-04 - Starfall 9
- 2014-05-09 - Cat Versus Monkey, Round One
- 2014-05-30 - I Haven't Protected You
- 2014-06-10 - Dance Of Flames
- 2014-07-11 - It's Lunchtime
- 2014-07-23 - Beware Of Cat
- 2014-09-17 - I Don't Hate You
- 2014-10-17 - Graduation Prep
- 2014-12-27 - Feng Shui 9
- 2015-02-12 - Fishing Contest
- 2015-04-04 - Monsters By Moonlight 1
- 2015-05-02 - Monsters By Moonlight 2
- 2015-05-31 - Monsters By Moonlight 3
- 2016-01-23 - Ohtori Sports Festival Dance
- 2016-01-24 - Ohtori Academy Invaded!
- 2016-02-01 - Desperation! Alyssa's Ultimatum
- 2016-02-06 - The Battle of Ohtori, Part One
- 2016-02-07 - The Battle of Ohtori, Part Two
- 2016-02-09 - Empty Hearths, Empty Hearts
- 2016-02-12 - Sifting Through The Charcoal
- 2016-08-16 - Locks and Keys 11
- 2016-09-03 - Locks and Keys 12
- 2016-09-04 - Locks and Keys 13
- 2017-01-23 - Shattered Labyrinth
- 2017-01-28 - Chevaliers Go to War
- 2017-02-24 - Noodle Years Eve 2014
- 2017-03-03 - Charlotte's Web 2
- 2017-03-04 - Charlotte's Web 3
- 2017-05-19 - CAKE WARS!!
- 2017-07-17 - Death and Cocoa
- 2017-07-21 - The Golden Queen of Shibuya
- 2017-10-20 - Crimson Rose Ball
- 2018-02-02 - Ueno Hanami
- 2018-02-18 - Ueno: Chevalier-Shepherd War
- 2018-02-24 - What's in the case!?
- 2018-02-28 - Why Do You Keep Doing This?
- 2018-03-01 - Words Can Say Anything
- 2018-03-17 - Shinjuku: Ingress
- 2018-03-21 - Family Matters
- 2018-03-25 - Welcome to the Mahou Jam
- 2018-03-31 - Shinjuku
- 2018-04-08 - The Demon Cat Strikes! Ye-jin's Opportunity?!
- 2018-04-12 - Stop To Recover
- 2018-04-13 - I Just Wanted To Pretend
- 2018-04-16 - Soi: Utena v. Kasagami, Second Duel
- 2018-04-17 - Conflicting Loyalties
- 2018-04-19 - Save Who You Can... Who's The Real Enemy?
- 2018-04-21 - Overdoing It?! Ramen, War, and a Child's Feelings!
- 2018-04-22 - Good Things In Ohtori
- 2018-04-23 - I Will Carve A Path To Everyone's Happiness
- 2018-04-26 - Love And Fear
- 2018-04-27 - Rebuilding
- 2018-04-28 - Whatever Happens, I Don't Want To Hurt You
- 2018-05-01 - Kasagami Returns, Ohtori Whispers
- 2018-05-04 - The Return: A UFO Appears!
- 2018-05-08 - SPACE JAIL: Unarmed Armistice
- 2018-05-10 - SPACE JAIL: Resolution
- 2018-05-11 - SPACE JAIL: Jail Break
- 2018-05-12 - SPACE JAIL: The Battle In Space
- 2018-05-13 - SPACE JAIL: Stronger Than You
- 2018-05-15 - They Took Everything
- 2018-05-17 - A Totally Normal Introduction
- 2018-05-18 - Snacks for Steven
- 2018-05-19 - Icecream and Damnation
- 2018-05-20 - Berserker Beatdown
- 2018-05-22 - Hunted! The Brittleness of Black Glass
- 2018-06-04 - Volcanic Love
- 2018-06-09 - What Lies Beneath 17
- 2018-06-10 - What Lies Beneath 18
- 2018-06-14 - LOTUS DREAMS: The Ideal Magical Girl
- 2018-06-15 - LOTUS DREAMS: Descent From Mount Homework
- 2018-06-17 - LOTUS DREAMS: In Defence Of Normality
- 2018-06-20 - LOTUS DREAMS: Bet of a Lifetime
- 2018-06-21 - LOTUS DREAMS: Amethystopia
- 2018-06-22 - LOTUS RECURSION: Dream within a Dream 1
- 2018-06-23 - LOTUS INCEPTION: Mikoto Minagi
- 2018-06-24 - LOTUS INCEPTION: Steven Universe
- 2018-06-24 - LOTUS RECURSION: Dream within a Dream 2
- 2018-06-26 - LOTUS INCEPTION: Mai Tokiha
- 2018-06-28 - LOTUS INCEPTION: Kasagami Araki
- 2018-06-29 - What Lies Beneath 19
- 2018-06-30 - What Lies Beneath 20
- 2018-07-11 - This Is Where the World Drops Off
- 2018-07-12 - Loyalty To Enemies
- 2018-07-18 - Fighting Words
- 2018-07-29 - Suddenly Shopping
- 2018-07-31 - A Song For A Song
- 2018-08-01 - Miscommunication
- 2018-08-18 - Childrens' Day Calamity
- 2018-08-19 - Kill Sayaka
- 2018-08-24 - Whatever It Takes..? Understanding Is As Useless As A Witch's Mercy!
- 2018-08-31 - None Of Them Love Eri
- 2018-08-31 - Reaching Out, Flinching Back
- 2018-09-08 - Cooking Class: Pasta
- 2018-09-13 - Into The Fold
- 2018-09-14 - Hope Floats 1
- 2018-09-18 - Hope Floats 2
- 2018-09-19 - Hope Floats 3
- 2018-09-26 - Love Love Me Two!
- 2018-09-27 - Cabbit Season?! I'm A Hunter Of Love!
- 2018-09-30 - Reckoning I
- 2018-10-02 - Her Most Important Person
- 2018-10-04 - Reckoning V
- 2018-10-05 - Reckoning VI
- 2018-10-07 - Being Strong Together
- 2018-10-08 - And Here I Thought Us HiME Had It Rough
- 2018-10-12 - Two Cats
- 2018-10-16 - Those Left Behind
- 2018-10-17 - Let Me Help!
- 2018-10-19 - Promise Only What You're Prepared To Deliver
- 2018-10-21 - Harmony
- 2018-10-28 - Complicated Communication
- 2018-10-30 - Danger and Donuts
- 2018-11-08 - Oktavia Sonate
- 2018-11-09 - Oktavia Menuett I
- 2018-11-10 - Oktavia Menuett II
- 2018-11-11 - TIMELINE 1: Hedging Bets
- 2018-11-15 - TIMELINE 1: Sports Festival Day! Tug-of-war Over Hearts!
- 2018-11-16 - TIMELINE 1: Let's Go, Animal Care Club!
- 2018-11-17 - TIMELINE 1: Sports Festival Day! Teamwork And Obstacles!
- 2018-11-18 - TIMELINE 1: The Broom Relay! Is It Competitive Tidying Up?!
- 2018-11-19 - TIMELINE 1: Hey, Listen! Cool Down In The Calm Tent!
- 2018-11-23 - TIMELINE 1: Save That Tomcat!
- 2018-11-24 - TIMELINE 1: Save Tokyo From Fusion! A Miracle Light Reaches Everyone's Hearts
- 2018-11-27 - TIMELINE 1: A Bear Island! For Bears!
- 2018-11-29 - TIMELINE 1: A Mewracle! Let's Come Together To Help Momma!
- 2018-12-01 - TIMELINE 1: Struggling To Communicate!
- 2018-12-05 - TIMELINE 1: Battle For The Top Of The Mountain! Snow Melts Hearts!
- 2018-12-07 - TIMELINE 1: The Star That Stole Christmas! Nagi's Wish And Steven's Spirit!
- 2018-12-08 - TIMELINE 1: A Star's Wish! The Death Of Madoka Kaname! The Rebirth of Princess Serenity!
- 2018-12-12 - TIMELINE 1: Making Tradition: It's Time For Crab!
- 2018-12-13 - TIMELINE 1: Moments Like This
- 2018-12-17 - TIMELINE 1: The Covenant Strikes Back! North Pole Confrontation!
- 2018-12-19 - TIMELINE 1: The Magic of Heights
- 2018-12-21 - TIMELINE 1: Orphans Again! Don't Forget To Party!
- 2018-12-23 - TIMELINE 1: How To Approach Executives: A Feline Perspective
- 2019-01-02 - TIMELINE 1: Easy Come, Easy Go
- 2019-01-04 - TIMELINE 1: Konbini Confluence!
- 2019-01-06 - TIMELINE 1: Easy Come, Easy Go II
- 2019-01-07 - TIMELINE 1: Real Women Keep Rice! Mai's The Worst House Guest?!
- 2019-01-10 - TIMELINE 1: Strawberries?! Setsuna's Acclimation
- 2019-01-19 - TIMELINE 2: Vengeance! Let's Make A Better Cat Cafe!
- 2019-01-20 - TIMELINE 2: Crane Game
- 2019-01-21 - TIMELINE 2: Breathtaking Ambition?! The President Demands Passion!
- 2019-01-27 - TIMELINE 2: First Annual Ohtori Dream Faire 1
- 2019-01-28 - TIMELINE 2: The Parable of the Shaken Can
- 2019-01-29 - TIMELINE 2: Duel of the Fates! For The Jewel Seeds!
- 2019-01-31 - TIMELINE 2: First Annual Ohtori Dream Faire 2
- 2019-02-01 - TIMELINE 2: Garden of Time! A Mother's Cruelty!
- 2019-02-02 - TIMELINE 2: Garden of Time! A Daughter's Love!
- 2019-02-04 - TIMELINE 2: The First Step
- 2019-02-11 - TIMELINE 3: Everyone Is Watching
- 2019-02-16 - TIMELINE 3: Dis/Closure
- 2019-02-16 - TIMELINE 3: Monsters By Moonlight
- 2019-02-17 - TIMELINE 3: Lost and Found
- 2019-02-18 - TIMELINE 3: Slacking Off?! What's Pushed Aside?
- 2019-02-19 - TIMELINE 3: Under the Spreading Citrus Tree
- 2019-02-21 - TIMELINE 3: Secrets and Sharp Edges! The Trouble We're In
- 2019-02-22 - TIMELINE 3: One More Bug To Squash
- 2019-02-23 - TIMELINE 3: Ohtori Academy Invaded! Zero Time For The Golden Age!
- 2019-02-24 - TIMELINE 3: Between Theory and Praxis
- 2019-02-25 - TIMELINE 3: Transgressing Mercy! The Sinister Design of Tools
- 2019-02-28 - TIMELINE 3: She Needs To Eat! All The Eyes On Eri Shimanouchi
- 2019-03-01 - TIMELINE 3: You're Stuck With Me
- 2019-03-02 - TIMELINE 3: The Searrs Ultimatum
- 2019-03-03 - TIMELINE 3: It's Your Fault
- 2019-03-04 - TIMELINE 3: Wedding Bells Knell! Desperate Situation!
- 2019-03-05 - TIMELINE 3: Weariness Winnows! What Do I Do..?
- 2019-03-08 - TIMELINE 3: The Battle of Ohtori, Part One
- 2019-03-09 - TIMELINE 3: The Battle of Ohtori, Part Two
- 2019-03-10 - TIMELINE 3: The Battle of Ohtori, Part Three
- 2019-03-11 - TIMELINE 3: Four Words
- 2019-03-12 - TIMELINE 3: Seeing The Danger! Enemies Find Common Ground
- 2019-03-17 - TIMELINE 3: The Use Of A Spent Shell Casing
- 2019-03-25 - TIMELINE 3: I'll Find You
- 2019-04-06 - TIMELINE X: Knightfall
- 2019-04-09 - Stray Sympathies
- 2019-04-12 - Deepening Depression! Steven's Scalding Hope
- 2019-04-13 - I Want To Know! A Witch's Promise And The Hunting Partner's Burden
- 2019-04-15 - Black Glass Girls
- 2019-04-16 - What We Have To Do To Survive
- 2019-04-17 - ... Do Better
- 2019-04-17 - Bait or Cast? And Another Looming Question, Too
- 2019-04-18 - Black Blade Reflection
- 2019-04-19 - Black Blade Revelation
- 2019-04-25 - When We Had Fun
- 2019-04-26 - Hairtrigger
- 2019-04-27 - Sleeplessover! The Incubator Explains It All!
- 2019-04-28 - Sleeplessover! The Incubator Explains It All! 2
- 2019-04-30 - A Final Mercy Granted By Love
- 2019-05-05 - Sweet Temptation ~ Hush
- 2019-05-11 - Walpurgisnacht: Ring Around The Roses
- 2019-05-12 - Walpurgisnacht: The Fourth Wish
- 2019-05-17 - Intermission 8: Friends
- 2019-06-28 - Ruthful Deontology! Mikoto Sends A Message
- 2019-07-01 - It Was One Time
- 2019-07-21 - Mochi and Demarcation
- 2019-08-15 - Dead Girls Feel No Suffering
- 2019-08-16 - Hachiko In Peril!
- 2019-09-08 - Pax Delenda Est..? Wait, Peace Must Be Destroyed?!
- 2019-09-15 - Promises to Keep
- 2019-09-16 - What Lies Beneath, Redux
- 2019-09-27 - Conviction ~ Belief
- 2019-09-28 - Conviction ~ Judgement
- 2019-10-21 - Options
- 2019-10-28 - The Logic Trap Snaps Shut! Users And The Used
- 2019-11-02 - Screen Time Blues
- 2019-11-10 - The Shadow Over Uminari
- 2019-12-01 - Cause For Alarm
- 2019-12-07 - Another Rude Awakening! With Westar's Advice, Mikoto Harries Anew!
- 2019-12-21 - Pyrotechnical Difficulties
- 2020-01-07 - The Right Hand Of Darkness
- 2020-01-18 - No Girl Is An Island I
- 2020-01-20 - The Closest Thing To A Toast
- 2020-01-25 - No Girl Is An Island II
- 2020-01-27 - It's Warm..! Everyone Missed You, Mikoto
- 2020-01-30 - Reconciliation
- 2020-02-04 - A Better Way! Miroku, Let's Do It Together!
- 2020-02-07 - MGLN SeekerS: The Big Beginning 1
- 2020-02-08 - MGLN SeekerS: The Big Beginning 2
- 2020-02-15 - MGLN SeekerS: The Big Beginning 3
- 2020-02-22 - Progression! My Favourite Delinquent Needs Civilising?!
- 2020-03-24 - It's Bitter! The Acquired Taste of Dark Fall
- 2020-04-05 - Mikocat?! The Potion Wasn't Finished Yet!
- 2020-04-14 - Cli-miii-ing
- 2020-04-15 - Expatriate Patrol
- 2020-04-18 - Creativity, Up A Tree
- 2020-04-30 - Just Go: The Art Of Movement
- 2020-05-09 - Cry For Help
- 2020-05-17 - Uminari Matsuri: POWER
- 2020-05-17 - Uminari Matsuri: Retto Contrario
- 2020-05-18 - Uminari Matsuri: Crepe Boots!
- 2020-05-20 - Uminari Matsuri: Everyone Wins At Senbonbiki
- 2020-05-21 - Uminari Matsuri: Two Strange Requests
- 2020-05-23 - Uminari Matsuri: Save The Day
- 2020-05-24 - Uminari Matsuri: Firework Viewing At Festival's End
- 2020-06-28 - Sister Schools or Stealing Schools
- 2020-06-29 - Sister Schools Joint Exercise: Jogging
- 2020-07-06 - Seeing Past The Danger! Friends Reconcile!
- 2020-07-10 - MGLN SeekerS: Asteroid In Love
- 2020-07-28 - I Want To Share! A Promise Upheld And A Burden Lessened
- 2020-07-31 - Sister Schools Joint Exercise: Dodgeball
- 2020-08-22 - Balance For A Home! Can You Handle An Egg?!
- 2020-08-25 - That Day, This Day
- 2020-08-29 - Happily Ever After
- 2020-08-30 - Happily Ever After 2
- 2020-09-25 - Arcade Madness: Mario Kart
- 2020-10-04 - Arcade Madness 2: Smash Kart
- 2020-10-16 - Arcade Madness 3: Fruitrassic Kart
- 2020-10-25 - Arcade Madness 4: Fruitrassic Kup
- 2020-10-31 - Infinity Halloween Party
- 2020-11-27 - Phantom Empire Strikes Back
- 2020-12-06 - On The Slow Train To Fate
- 2020-12-13 - Preliminary Disruption
- 2020-12-20 - Widows and Orphans 1
- 2020-12-21 - Widows and Orphans 2
- 2021-01-08 - Superstriker's Unsportsmanlike Conduct
- 2021-02-11 - A Day Just For Me
- 2021-02-21 - This Way To Magical Knight Show
- 2021-02-28 - A Very Special Birthday
- 2021-03-07 - Ogres and Onis! When Careful's Full Of Caring, Can We Really Cut Straight To The Point?
- 2021-03-20 - Sister Schools Joint Exercise: Heart-Pounding Swim Race
- 2021-03-31 - I'm Scared..!! Setsuna Models Solidarity!
- 2021-04-17 - MGLN SeekerS: Road Trip 1
- 2021-04-26 - Remember That It Matters! I Don't Know What I Don't Know, But I Know Parfaits Are Delicious!
- 2021-05-10 - Delicate Dark (Don't Fight Boars)
- 2021-05-30 - Christmas Lights! A Cardiax! A Child!
- 2021-06-12 - Black Glass Brothers
- 2021-06-25 - Juuban's Got Talent! You've Been Scouted!
- 2021-07-07 - Implied Distance! The Dignity of Tradition
- 2021-07-18 - Let's Plan A Shopping Trip! Television's Influencing The Youth!
- 2021-08-04 - The Family Business Is No Dancing Cat, and Other Complex Calculations
- 2021-08-06 - Hot Potbelly Ogre?! Yumi Shines For Hanae's Sake!
- 2021-09-10 - Revealing Resentment! Is Conflagria Hungry For Power..?
- 2021-09-19 - Secret Party
- 2021-10-18 - It Suits You
- 2021-11-23 - Chicken, Cats, and Baby Darth Vader?! We're Seeking The Meaning Of Christmas!
- 2021-11-27 - Bauble Belles
- 2021-12-03 - Rainbow Bridge, Rainbow Heart
- 2021-12-04 - Return To The North Pole 1
- 2021-12-11 - Return To The North Pole 2
- 2021-12-14 - Return To The North Pole 3
- 2021-12-16 - Return To The North Pole 4
- 2021-12-18 - He Makes Me Dance
- 2021-12-23 - That's How It Is..? I'll Protect You!
- 2022-02-06 - A Mysterious Script! A Bright Script Reading!
- 2022-02-13 - Cake and College
- 2022-04-11 - All My Best Laid Plans
- 2022-08-13 - Clubs, Uninterrupted
- 2022-09-14 - Showdown At Dark Burger 1
- 2022-09-22 - Showdown At Dark Burger 2
- 2022-09-27 - Tanks For Your Insight
- 2022-10-02 - Disaster Recovery 2
- 2022-10-08 - Disaster Recovery 3
- 2022-10-11 - When I Grow Up, Will I Be Alone?
- 2022-10-14 - Conflagria Appears! It's A Battle Of Words For Mikoto!?
- 2022-10-18 - You're Enough, Already
- 2022-10-20 - Scarf of Sorrow
- 2022-10-28 - The Book And Its Boy 1
- 2022-11-27 - Snowball Carnival
- 2022-12-21 - The Book And Its Boy 4
- 2023-01-23 - Magic Food! Science Fools! And We've Got History with Dark Fall, Too?
- 2023-05-05: MGLN SeekerS: Road Trip 2
- 2023-05-14: MGLN SeekerS: Road Trip 2.5
- 2023-07-16 - VICTORY LUCK AIZAWA 2
- 2023-11-03 - MGLN SeekerS: An Awakening
- 2024-01-25 - MGLN SeekerS: The Pericosmic Array
- 2024-02-08 - Burn It All Down
- 2024-03-08 - The Hunt for Red Familiar
- 2024-08-10 - To Labyrinth
- 2024-08-18 - The Labyrinth Reloaded
- 2024-10-19 - The Labyrinth Revolutions 1
- 2024-11-08 - The Labyrinth Revolutions 2
Cutscenes
- 2017-10-09 - The Search
- 2018-04-20 - ... Dreams
- 2018-04-20 - Decimated...
- 2018-04-26 - I Don't Get It
- 2018-06-12 - LOTUS AWAKENING: Mikoto Minagi
- 2018-06-26 - LOTUS INTERMISSION: Mikoto Minagi
- 2018-07-05 - A Dark Thicket
- 2018-09-20 - Mine
- 2018-10-13 - ... Submission
- 2018-10-13 - Submersed...
- 2019-04-06 - TIMELINE X: Deleterious Delicacies and the Petulant Prompter ~ 'Food'
- 2019-04-06 - TIMELINE X: The Critical Consequence of a Broken Sequence ~ 'Wanting'
- 2019-04-06 - TIMELINE X: The Lack of a Chance Meeting ~ 'Communication'
- 2019-04-13 - Death-dialing
- 2019-04-23 - What Fire Forwent
- 2019-11-21 - Lord Brother Is Watching You
- 2020-12-30 - Minagi, Minagi, Burning Bright
- 2021-03-03 - Sweet Temptation ~ A Gift
- 2022-01-03 - Alive and Well